In a shocking episode at Coco Safar, an upscale eatery located on the picturesque Atlantic Seaboard, a seemingly coordinated attack sent tremors of fear through the heart of the peaceful community.
Coco Safar at the centre of extortion investigation
The incident was narrated in vivid detail by Green Point Neighbourhood Watch chairperson Peter Flentov, who took to Facebook to recount the unsettling events of Thursday, 5 October 2023.
As per Flentov’s account, the peaceful ambience of Coco Safar in St. John’s Plaza, Sea Point was shattered when three masked individuals, armed with bricks, stormed into the restaurant and began smashing glasses and bottles at the bar.
The sheer terror of the scene compelled terrified customers to scramble for safety, seeking refuge in nearby stores as the assailants hastily retreated from the crime scene.
The motive behind this blatant display of violence remains shrouded in mystery, with local authorities maintaining a stoic silence despite numerous attempts to obtain a comment regarding the incident.
Cape Town’s shimmering nightlife scene spoiled by extortion rackets
The narrative of this attack intertwines with a grim tale of violence that has recently engulfed Sea Point.
A separate incident involved a hail of bullets aimed at a private security vehicle, igniting whispers of a sinister connection between the two events.
The atmosphere of fear further intensified a week later following the brutal assassination of Israeli-born businessman, Shaufik Nassar, on Bosmansdam Road.
Whispers within the vibrant nightlife circle of Cape Town alluded to Nassar’s alleged involvement in an extortion racket, a claim seemingly substantiated by the tragic demise of his cousin, Abdel Fattah Nassar, who was ruthlessly gunned down nearly a year prior during a visit to Cape Town.
Insiders have hinted at a narrative where members of the extended Nassar family sought refuge in South Africa, fleeing a violent past linked to alleged criminal activities in their homeland.
Abdel Fattah Nassar’s criminal record, dotted with arrests in Israel for violent crimes including shootings and possession of firearms, lends a dark credence to these speculations.
In a statement to IOL News, Coco Safar owner Arno van Zyl refused to comment on the situation, citing that the matter had escalated into a specialised police investigation.
“I am unable to comment on an ongoing police investigation by the SAPS specialised extortion task team,” he said.