Aziz Hartley and Quinton Mtyala
ONE of Cape Town’s most prominent underworld figures, Cyril Beeka, was assasinated when unknown gunmen on a motorcyle opened fire on the vehicle he was travelling in.
The driver of a BMW 4x4 Beeka, 49, was shot in the chest and was admitted to an intensive care unit.
“It happened at about 5pm about 300m from the entrance of UWC. The occupants of the car were travelling on Modderdam Road and in the direction of Cape Town when a motorcycle pulled up next to them and several shots were fired,” police spokesman Joe Wilson said last night.
He said police had first responded to what they believed was a road accident, but when they arrived, they found bullets holes in the side of the 4x4.
“The driver lost control of the vehicle and it crashed into a fence. At this stage the motive is unknown. No suspects have been identified or arrested.”
Beeka’s brother Eddie Beeka confirmed he had been shot but would not elaborate.
Graeme Lazarus, joint MD of RAM Hand-to-Hand couriers, where Beeka was employed as its head of national security, said he was still in a state of shock.
“I just got off a plane from Cape Town, I just heard that he was shot, I’m still dealing with it,” said Lazarus.
He said he had last spoken to Beeka on Thursday.
Beeka is believed to have recently fallen out with underworld figure and Czech fugitive Radovan Krecjr who was a known associate. The two were linked to a failed bid to bring the Gemballa automotive franchise to South Africa.
Metro EMS (Emergency Medical Services) spokesperson Keri Davids said Beeka had a gunshot wound to the head and was declared dead at the scene. She said that shortly before 5pm an anonymous call was received that people were rapped inside a vehicle. When paramedics arrived they found the BMW on its side.
“It was found that the vehicle had rolled. The passenger was lying on the driver. Paramedics said there was a lot of blood. One male was wounded in the chest. He had to be extricated from the vehicle and he was airlifted to hospital. He was in a critical condition. It was not clear if there were other people in the vehicle.”
Vincent Pallotti Hospital spokesperson Sue Scholtz said: “I can confirm a man was brought in. He is in ICU.”
In the 1990s, Beeka owned RED and Pro security companies. Pro was involved in offering security at nightclubs. Police at the time alleged it operated as a protection racket.
He was arrested with several others in connection with the murder of a Chinese sailor but was later acquitted.
Read the full story in the print edition of the Cape Times