Cape Town - Controversial businessman Mark Lifman has called on the Western Cape High Court to attach a Green Point property owned by former Beerhouse owner, Randolf Jorberg, in an ongoing defamation debacle.
This comes after Lifman’s attorneys warned that he would seek damages of R500 000 amid social media claims by Jorberg linking Lifman to various crimes such as the murder of his doorman several years ago.
The owner of the popular eatery on Long Street claimed he was forced to shut down his business amid extortion related issues.
In August this year, Jorberg spoke to media outlets claiming his restaurant and several others on Long Street were hit hard by extortionists who allegedly demanded protection fees.
He said he was approached by a man who pitched him a proposal for the fees, which Jorberg refused to pay until a few days after an employee was murdered.
Thirty-two-year-old bouncer, Joe Kanyona, was stabbed in the neck at Beerhouse on June 20, 2015.
Earlier this year, Jorberg was featured on Carte Blanche where he directed blame towards Lifman for the murder.
In letters written by Lifman’s attorneys, they slam Jorberg’s comments where he admits that he had no direct evidence linking Lifman to the murder.
“I don’t have factual evidence as in a sworn statement by the hitman that he was ordered by Mark Lifman.
“I was never given an option that there could be anyone else behind it,” Jorberg said.
In his application, Lifman said that was proof that Jorberg had no actual evidence, but still levelled serious allegations.
Lifman’s legal teams also highlighted a series of social media posts, saying it was defamatory, and called on him to issue a public apology before September 4.
It is understood that Lifman now wants the high court to attach Jorberg’s home in a bid to obtain the R500 000 in damages.
Questioned by the Cape Argus, Jorberg said while it was widely reported that the property in Green Point was worth over R5 million, he had never received a municipal evaluation since he bought it in 2008 and did not know its value.
He said he will “continue fighting extortion” and clarified his comments linking Lifman to the murder by saying: “I will fight him, I won’t fight the application. My focus is on making sure that extortion ends. To open a criminal case and find more people that are willing to make a statement against Mark Lifman’s extortion business.
“The reality is I was approached by people who are known to work for Mark Lifman within two days of opening Beerhouse. In all these years nobody else ever came to threaten me. Joe was murdered a few days after we made a statement to the Hawks and Joe got intimidated by Hussain who is known to work for Mark Lifman so who else should I look at other than Mark Lifman. I am just stating the obvious and it is not on me to do the police work to gather evidence and speak to witnesses.”
Cape Argus