Gangland intrigue in raid on car dealer
● Rumours of underworld debt collection and extortion swirled this week after a bizarre attack by about 40 men on a luxury Cape Town car dealership.
Nearly four months ago The Toy Shop dealership moved to Paarden Eiland from the central business district, in the process ending its contract with a security company affiliated to alleged underworld boss Nafiz Modack.
Toy Shop manager Mark Misdorp said after the raid on Wednesday — in which eight vehicles had their windows and lights smashed — Modack was one of the first to call him.
“I got a call directly after from Modack asking if I’m OK and if I need any assistance,” said Misdorp, adding that he had switched to a new security company, PPA Security, because it is based near his new premises.
“I just think they are the better option because they have a tactical unit and we’ve got panic buttons,” he said.
“Modack’s guys were great when we were in town but they couldn’t really assist you if anything happened. There was no panic button, you just phone them and then they pitch up but by then it’s usually too late.”
Modack, who was acquitted a year ago of extortion charges related to security contracts for Cape Town restaurants and nightclubs, said he went to The Toy Shop after hearing of the attack and Misdorp told him it had been a robbery.
“We’re friends with Mark but PPA is right next to him and he signed up with them,” he said. “The anti-gang unit was quickly on this thing, saying, ‘Hey, it’s Modack.’ But it’s got nothing to do with me, I don’t have a problem with those guys.”
Misdorp said there were rumours the incident was related to attempts to collect a R1.8m debt, but he said The Toy Shop was being confused with a separate incident involving another company.
Misdorp said The Toy Shop’s panic buttons had not worked and PPA guards arrived after the attackers had left.
PPA boss Alwyn Landman said the company did not have panic buttons at the dealership. “Our control room was contacted manually and told a robbery was in progress,” he said.
“We alerted the police immediately and … by the time of our arrival we were told the incident has happened already and [the police are] dealing with it.”
Video footage showed men entering the dealership just after 11am on Wednesday, assaulting staff and customers and smashing luxury vehicles. Some appeared to be armed.
Misdorp said three men initially demanded the keys to two cars, saying if they were handed over “there won’t be any issues”.
When staff refused, the men summoned two taxis, which arrived loaded with the attackers.
“I was busy showing a car to one of the clients around the corner and I didn’t know this was happening. I walked straight into it,” said Misdorp.
“I ran because I saw weapons come out. I got hit across the head and across the leg and I ran into the closest shop next door for safety.
“The rest of the staff had also already fled. The main guys who came into the store to ask for the cars had already left in their own convoy. They left their henchmen behind to do the damage.”
Misdorp said the business had no debts so he could not see an extortion link.
“No-one asked for money but they did steal everything; they took the coffee machines, the coffee beans, the computers, microwaves, TVs. They literally took anything electronic in that shop.”
Police spokesperson Sgt Noloyiso Rwexana said investigators are not ruling out extortion, and cases of business robbery and malicious damage to property had been opened.
Late last year, Tag Heuer watches and sunglasses worth a total of R600,000 were stolen from The Toy Shop, said Misdorp.