Part I: Mihaljevic murder puts the spotlight back on Bedfordview
Since George Mihaljevic was gunned down in Bedfordview, the public and media have widely speculated about his alleged connection to organised crime and convicted criminal and former Bedfordview resident Radovan Krejcir.
Also read: GUNNED DOWN: SAPS will not speculate on motive for Mihaljevic murder
The speculations prompted renewed discussions about organised crime in the Bedfordview area.
Group operations director of IRS Forensic Investigations, Chad Thomas, shared his opinions about organised crime and about Mihaljevic during a recent meeting with the NEWS.
Also read: Man (43) shot, killed in Bedfordview by two on motorcycle
The forensic investigator believes Mihaljevic was murdered for his “alleged and possible ties to Krejcir and others alike”.
The 43-year-old Mihaljevic was murdered on September 24 at the corner of Van Buuren and Kloof roads.
Also read: Bedfordview murder victim named
He was shot by two gunmen on a motorbike while on his way home.
Spokesperson for Bedfordview SAPS Capt André de Jager said the SAPS is still following up on leads.
“The motive is still unknown,” said de Jager.
De Jager said the Serbian Embassy contacted Bedfordview SAPS about Mihaljevic after the murder.
“Mihaljevic was born in Montenegro and has a Serbian passport and a South African identity document,” said de Jager.
“We have done a post-mortem and once the body has been released, the family will decide what happens to it,” said de Jager.
Thomas told the NEWS he looked into the allegations of Miso Mihaljevic’s alleged torture by men hired prior to Miso’s death. Miso, George’s father, died in 2013.
“It was alleged the men were hired by Krejcir,” said Thomas.
Also read: Attempts to kill cop and O’Sullivan foiled
However, that same year, Mihaljevic told national media that he believed that Krejcir was not involved in his father’s death.
“George lived an extremely glitzy life. He drove Ferraris and Porsches. Although Mihaljevic often protested that his business was legitimate, it also pointed to organised crime.
“He was also involved in the same line of business as Krejcir – the supposed gold and diamond exchange. Mihaljevic made enemies along the way,” said Thomas.
Also read: “Gangland” body count rises
“Rumour has it that Mihaljevic knew there was a hit on him and was out of the country for a while. He came in and out of South Africa, never telling anyone when he arrived or when he was leaving. He travelled between SA, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Serbia,” said Thomas.
He said Mihaljevic never put down roots in any of the four countries.
Thomas believes this might be because of his business activities or that Mihaljevic did not want to be in one place for too long.
“Mihaljevic’s murder is one of several incidents connected to a ‘low-intensity war’ between rival Eastern European groups,” said Thomas.
He said these included an incident last year September when Ivan Djordjevic (57) was shot four times.
Djordjevic, a Bryanston resident, was shot while in his car at a KFC near Bedford Centre.
When police conducted a search of his car, they found a bag filled with an undisclosed amount of money.
When de Jager spoke to the NEWS at the time he said nothing had been taken from Djordjevic’s car.
Also read: Manhunt still on for Bedfordview shooters
The second incident occurred when a man was shot and killed in Strijdom Park on April 25 this year.
Also read: BREAKING: Reports of a shooting at KFC near Bedford Centre
The NEWS’ sister publication, Randburg Sun, then reported that a male victim sustained “multiple injuries on his neck and chest area” when he was shot several times with a high-calibre weapon while waiting at a red traffic light.
Also read: Krejcir accomplice arrested for conspiring with Issa murder suspects
Thomas said another incident was when a man was shot and killed and two other individuals injured at the corner of Malibongwe and President Fouche drives on July 17.
Randburg Sun then reported that the driver of a BMW X5 was forced to stop his car and was shot through the windshield and side window by one suspect.
“In addition to the murders in SA, other murders occurred in Serbia, which included the killing of George Darmanovich.”
SA media reported in May this year that Darmanovich was shot and killed, also by two men on a motorbike.
“These shootings are related to this ongoing ‘low-intensity war’ between rival Eastern European groups,” said Thomas.
“It is not entirely impossible that it is not Krejcir pulling the strings from prison, but in my opinion, this is considered the work of rival groups from Eastern Europe.”
“Krejcir was apparently anti-Mihaljevic because Mihaljevic allegedly owed Krejcir money,” said Thomas.
“These rival groups could be fighting a proxy battle on South African soil for drug deals that went bad in South America and East Europe.”
Part II: The attraction to Bedfordview
Thomas said Eastern Europeans are attracted to Bedfordview because of an established Eastern European community and its location.
He said the area is in close proximity to an airport, has direct access to the highways and is close to warehouse facilities and import and export agents.
Also read: Another win for Krejcir investigators
Thomas said that society needs to make a distinction between gangsterism and organised crime.
“Organised crime is on the rise but it is not confined to Bedfordview. Bedfordview just happens to be an epicentre of so many incidents. One cannot ignore the obvious that certain syndicates have established themselves there,” said Thomas.
“It is the only area in Johannesburg where a bomb blast took place, relating to organised crime,” said Thomas.
Also read: Bedfordview bombing victims identified
In November 2013 the NEWS reported that the two victims of the bombing at Krejcir’s Money Point business in Bedfordview were identified as Ronny Malesele Bvuma and Jan (John) Charvat.
Thomas, who worked in Bedfordview 23 years ago at Bedford Centre, said he has seen a paradigm change in the area.
“Bedfordview is unique in that it only borders working-class areas and that has had an effect on it,” said Thomas.
Also read: GALLERY: Bedfordview bombing
“Bedfordview is new money. It is people who came from Malvern, Bertrams, Bez Valley and Kensington who grew up fighting with their fists. They have always wanted to live in an upmarket area and have now migrated to Bedfordview.”
In the book Stripped – The King of Teaze the former owner of Teazers and also a resident of Bedfordview, Lolly Jackson, documented his days growing up in Primrose.
Jackson was shot and killed in Edleen, Kempton Park, on May 3, 2010.
De Jager also spoke about crime and why people were attracted to Bedfordview.
Also read: Jackson murder case removed from court roll – NPA confirms
De Jager said people who live on the outskirts of Bedfordview make money and then move to Bedfordview.
He said Bedfordview is very central, being five minutes away from the airport.
De Jager added that there are plenty of foreigners in Bedfordview.
“If there is an underground network in Bedfordview, it probably is active, but we cannot confirm anything stated by Thomas,” said de Jager.
“We investigate the facts.
“The crimes that we have at Bedfordview SAPS are the same crimes as any other station,” said de Jager.
He said the policing precinct does have unique crimes, such as follow-home robberies or Rolex watches being stolen.
Editing and packaging: Marietta Lombard and Charmaine Slater.
