Cape Town, 12 June 2025 — The brazen daylight assassination of André Naudé in Parow has reignited concerns over Cape Town’s ongoing battle with organized crime. Naudé, an alleged associate of notorious crime boss Mark Lifman, was gunned down shortly after 3 p.m. on Voortrekker Road in what police believe was a targeted hit. He was declared dead at the scene, marking yet another chapter in the city’s grim underworld saga.
Naudé, a name long associated with Cape Town’s criminal networks, was one of several co-accused in the 2017 high-profile murder case of Brian Wainstein, dubbed the “steroid king.” Wainstein’s assassination in his Constantia home had sent shockwaves through the city’s criminal underworld, implicating powerful figures and exposing deep-rooted rivalries among organized crime syndicates.
On the day of his death, Naudé was reportedly traveling in a white luxury vehicle when he came under fire. Eyewitnesses described the chaos as gunshots echoed through the busy street, causing pedestrians and motorists to scramble for cover. Paramedics arrived swiftly but found Naudé fatally wounded. Forensic teams combed the area for evidence, including shell casings and surveillance footage.
Authorities have not made any arrests thus far, but early speculation points to a meticulously planned hit, possibly linked to ongoing turf wars or unresolved criminal feuds. Western Cape police spokesperson Colonel André Traut confirmed that the murder investigation is active and that “all leads are being followed.” He further appealed to the public for assistance in identifying the assailants.
Naudé’s name was synonymous with controversy. Aside from the Wainstein case, he had been linked to multiple criminal enterprises, including drug trafficking, extortion, and racketeering. His longstanding association with Mark Lifman placed him at the nexus of some of Cape Town’s most volatile underworld conflicts. Despite legal proceedings against him stalling in recent years, Naudé remained a high-profile figure in criminal circles.
His death follows a pattern of violent eliminations among figures tied to Cape Town’s underworld. Over the past few years, several individuals connected to the nightclub security industry, steroid trade, and narcotics distribution have met similarly violent ends. Police believe these killings are part of a broader power struggle among rival factions vying for control over lucrative illegal markets.
The public nature of Naudé’s killing has alarmed residents and business owners in Parow, who have expressed deep concern about safety and the seeming impunity with which such attacks occur. Community leaders are calling for more decisive action from law enforcement to clamp down on gang activity and protect innocent bystanders from the fallout of criminal rivalries.
As Cape Town reels from yet another high-profile execution-style murder, the spotlight is once again on the city’s entrenched criminal networks. Whether Naudé’s death will lead to breakthroughs in ongoing investigations or spark further retaliatory violence remains to be seen.
Police continue to urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111.