Cape Town police confirmed on Tuesday morning that alleged underworld boss Cyril Beeka was gunned down in the city over the long weekend.
“I can confirm that it was Cyril Beeka who died in the shooting,” said police spokesperson Captain Joe Wilson.
He said no suspects had been identified.
“We can only speculate about the motive at this stage,” said Wilson.
Beeka’s driver, who was also shot, was in a serious but stable condition in hospital on Tuesday morning, he added.
The 49-year-old Beeka died when two men on a motorcycle shot at his silver BMW near the University of the Western Cape on Monday afternoon.
In 1999, Beeka appeared in court accused of murder. At the time, he was alleged to be a key figure behind protection rackets in Cape Town clubs.
He also reportedly had National Intelligence Agency links and was an informer for the African National Congress’ armed wing, Umkhonto weSizwe.
Beeka accompanied intelligence boss Mo Shaik as a minder to the ANC conference in Polokwane in 2007.
Last year, the Star reported that Beeka saw the prime suspect in the murder of Lolly Jackson on the night he was murdered. – Sapa