Crane: Suburb living in fear
2003-11-11 06:58
Lizel Steenkamp en Martina Smit
Johannesburg - An upmarket Johannesburg surburb is again in the grip of a terrible fear of the Israeli mafia after Hazel Crane - convicted diamond smuggler and close friend of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela - was murdered on Monday.
Crane, 56, was due to testify soon in the murder case against Lior Saat, an alleged member of the Israeli mafia. Saat is accused of beating Shai Avissar, Crane's ex-husband, to death in October 1999.
Crane faithfully attended the court case. Madikizela-Mandela regularly supported her.
She and a 48-year-old friend, who may not be named, were on their way to Johannesburg High Court for Saat's appearance on Monday.
She was shot dead about 09:15 in Abbotsford in the northern part of the city in what police described as "a direct attack on her life".
"There is no doubt about this. They must have known her movements and watched her," said superintendent Chris Wilken at the murder scene.
Wilken said the "white attacker", hiding behind a dustbin on the corner of Scott and First streets, waited for Crane's Mercedez-Benz.
He fired at least five shots at Crane past her friend in the passenger seat. He then sped away in a luxury vehicle.
Crane was wounded in the face, chest, arm and leg. She was admitted to Milpark Hospital at 11:00 and died two hours later.
Her friend was wounded in the hand, but was transferred to another hospital for safety reasons.
Oaklands residents were shocked and concerned on Monday.
"This is a terrible thing. It has a long history and I don't want to become involved in it at all," said a man, who refused to identify himself.
A woman resident told how an attacker shot at Crane in the driveway of her home on May 21 this year.
An emotional Madikizela-Mandela arrived at Crane's house after stopping at Milpark Hospital. She refused to comment.
Wilken said the Johannesburg unit for serious violent crime was investigating the case "widely".
"It is difficult to point out the suspect(s) at this stage. The possibility is being investigated that the Israeli mafia could be involved.
"We cannot ignore it. We are also following up information from a motorist who was passing."
An inquest was due to be done on Monday.