[imagesource: The WC]
Nafiz Modack, an alleged underworld figure police believe played a role in the attempted assassination of criminal lawyer William Booth, was arrested on April 28 after a high-speed car chase by members of the National Task Team.
Officers hauled Modack from the driver’s seat in Century View, an estate in Century City, with Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale saying that when the team attempted to stop the suspects, they accelerated and a vehicle missed one of the officers.
News24 reports:
The footage shows a Toyota Hilux being cornered by two vehicles next to a construction site. Construction workers are seen running away after spotting the officers jump out, brandishing firearms and surrounding the vehicle.
The officers open the front doors and appear to place Modack, in the driver’s seat, on the ground.
Mogale said that during the arrest, two unlicensed firearms were found in a Mercedes also involved in the chase, and another unlicensed firearm inside the Hilux.
There are some pretty decent driving skills on display below:
Related to the above arrest, Modack faces charges of attempted murder, reckless driving, and a charge of resisting arrest.
He also appeared in court this week on charges of intimidation, kidnapping, extortion, money laundering, violation of the Electronic Communications Act, and charges under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, alongside co-accused Jacques Cronje and Ricardo Morgan.
Oh, and Morgan and Modack are also being charged with the attempted murder of Booth, as well as conspiracy to commit murder.
Quite a rap sheet, that.
Individuals affiliated with the Cape underworld, which has raged almost unchecked for three decades, say that Modack’s arrest is being closely watched.
Some spoke with The Daily Maverick, on the condition of anonymity:
The overwhelming response from those caught in these violent underworld currents is that Modack [below] is a mere football in the game and that those “dishing out yellow or red cards” were corrupt police officials and politicians who had enabled him to amass power.
…one [underworld figure said] that the Western Cape was “on a knife-edge with everyone linked to the underworld closely watching the Modack case unfold”.
Alleged underworld figure Andre Naude was willing to speak on the record, saying that Modack has a wealth of knowledge related to a number of high-profile cases over the years:
However, Naude believes that if Modack “talks he will be killed”.
Naude said he wanted Modack to be kept alive “even if it means keeping him in a padded room with his hands tied. He owes us answers.”
Naude said he was not optimistic that the violence, extortion and murder in the fight for control of the night-time economy of Cape Town would subside.
“There is no calm in the industry. There are still gangster elements deeply involved,” Naude said.
That ‘night-time economy’ has proven to be very lucrative, with the net widening during COVID-19 lockdowns, so those involved won’t be too willing to give up control without a fight.
