Moses Mthetheleli Mackay
Police have disclosed details of the alleged "Moroccan connection" to a city security firm being linked to an underworld empire of drug-dealing, extortion and violence in clubland.
The evidence was led on Wednesday in the Cape Town Regional Court during the bail hearing of security boss Cyril Beeka and four of his employees, who are being held in connection with a charge of murder and four charges of aggravated assault.
The other suspects, who are karate and kick-boxing experts, are Patrick Plum, 37, of Sea Point, Moctar Fall, 23, a refugee from Senegal, Moroccan Hamid Zouity, 23, of Woodstock, and Jacques Cronje, 29, of Green Point.
A fifth man, Ruben Myburgh, 23, of Kraaifontein, was released on bail of R2 500.
The murder charge relates to the death of a Chinese sailor beaten up in a city nightclub in August.
In an affidavit, Captain Johan Smit described how city security firm PRO Access Security ran an alleged protection racket.
It would send in a gang of Moroccans to cause havoc in a new club, then offer the services of its bouncers to sort out the problem.
Dogs and baseball bats were used in the attacks at clubs, he said.
Captain Smit, of the special investigative unit on organised crime, said if the owner refused the offer of security services, the Moroccans were sent in again.
"Cyril Beeka, who is in control of the operations of the organisation, makes the use of, among others, a group of Moroccans to achieve their common objectives," he said.
Because of damage to premises, assaults on clients, and loss of custom, the club owner would be forced to sign up to the firm, which then took over the drug trade in the club.
"The person leading the Moroccans is Houssain Ait Taleb. His second-in-command is Mr Zouity, one of the accused. Both work for PRO Access Security."
Captain Smit said Mr Ait Taleb was in custody for allegedly being in possession of an unlicensed firearm, possessing illegal ammunition, firing a weapon in a municipal area, and possession of stolen property.
These charges involved incidents at Springfield 2, a Newlands nightclub.
"Mr Ait Taleb gave his work address as PRO Access Security after his arrest. He is on a temporary residence permit, and is not allowed to work."
He listed a series of incidents allegedly involving PRO Access bouncers.
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A Somali fired at police outside a Pepper Street club last month, wounding one in the shoulder, and was then shot dead.
An unlicensed gun, bullets, cocaine and Ecstasy tablets were found on the body.
Police said he worked for PRO Access Security - Mr Beeka's numbers were on his cellphone memory.
In August, Mr Myburgh, one of the men in court, was arrested at a rave at Longkloof Studios, for dealing in drugs and resisting arrest.
In the same month, Moroccan national Khayou Khalied was arrested outside Springfield 2 for possessing an unlicensed firearm and Moroccan Habib Kahn was arrested for a similar offence in the city.
He failed to appear in court and a warrant is out for his arrest.
"It is difficult to prosecute the leaders of this operation, as the public fears them and are hesitant to co-operate, to act as witnesses, or to lay charges," Captain Smit said.
"Nightclub owners feel police can't protect them or compensate them for damage should they lay charges."
Anton Veldhuizen, for the suspects, told the court there was no evidence Mr Beeka was involved in the criminal offences, and his clients should be granted bail.
He confirmed the security company controlled about 90% of nightclub security business in the city.
State prosecutor Bruce Morrison said: "Looking at the evidence from the affidavits and the (suspects') testimony, they might intimidate and interfere with State witnesses. They might also attempt not to stand trial."
He said Mr Beeka knew a warrant was out for his arrest before a visit to Johannesburg but went anyway.
"What guarantee do we have that he will stand trial if bail is granted?"
Magistrate Jan van Zyl adjourned the hearing until October 12.