Cape Town - Four luxury cars belonging to one of the country’s most controversial businessmen were auctioned this week as Sars tightened its squeeze on him to recover money he owes.
In just 17 minutes on Wednesday, Mark Lifman’s cars were sold at a fraction of the market price.
Two of the cars were bought by Lifman’s business associate Jerome “Donkie” Booysen, who attended the auction in Montague Gardens with his brother, Colin Booysen and several other men.
Four years ago, during a court case, a Hawks investigating officer named Booysen as the head of the Sexy Boys gang.
Nothing came of this testimony and Booysen was never arrested.
Neither he nor his brother wanted to be photographed at the auction, which attracted about 30 people.
Lifman refused to speak to the press about the auction of his vehicles. “No interest and definitely no comment.”.
It was the second time this year some of his belongings were auctioned.
In February, two Porsche Cayennes, computers and printers as well as furniture, including what was described as a “purple lover’s couch”, went under the hammer.
Lifman owes Sars at least R13 million.
At the auction, held at the Sheriff for Cape Town’s warehouse, four of Lifman’s cars were parked in a garage behind the main building.
At first only a few potential buyers walked around the cars, two Porsche Cayennes and two Lexus models, opening the doors and looking inside.
But after about 20 minutes, Booysen and a group of men arrived. They looked at the cars then, just before the auction started, positioned themselves in the warehouse, sections of which were crammed with other items, including tumble dryers, washing machines and furniture.
Lifman’s cars that went under the hammer were:
* A black Porsche Cayenne GTS. On the Autotrader website, a 2015 used-model was advertised for nearly R1.5 million.
* A blue Porsche Cayenne Turbo. The Autotrader website advertised a 2001 used-model at R1 499 950.
* A white Lexus. Pre-used models were advertised online for between R250 000 and R580 000 and more depending on year of manufacture.
* A black Lexus with the number plate “Percy 01 WP”.
When bidding opened for the black Porsche, Booysen initially offered R50 000. But this figure was bettered by another bidder.
Within two minutes of intense bidding, Booysen offered the winning amount of R170 000.
Each time he offered an amount, the men who had arrived there with him peered around to see if he had uttered the amount. They nodded at each other if he had.
Booysen also bid on the black Lexus, eventually offering R62 000.
In 1997, Booysen’s brother Llewellyn, 27, also known as Percy, was shot dead in Parow.
Booysen said he bought the car for his mother because it was initially his and the number plate was in honour of his brother.
The car had been registered under Lifman’s name.
According to a Western Cape High Court judgment from June last year, which dealt with an urgent interim interdict in terms of which Lifman was trying to suspend or set aside any judgment Sars had been granted against him, he and six of his closed corporations owed Sars about R13m.
The judgment also hinted at other money owed to Sars by Lifman. Sars said his R13m debt excluded other tax debts which Sars had addressed in letters of findings after its inquiry.
The judgment said the process concerning this was pending.
Weekend Argus