It started with a grainy, terrifying clip of a man being gunned down at a café in Table View. Almost instantly, the digital rumour mill went into overdrive, with fingers pointing at Joel Booysen as the victim. But while the internet was busy mourning him, the 30-year-old was actually at home, far from any crime scene, relaxing with a cup of matcha.
"Fake news. Guys, I’m in bed relaxing, drinking matcha, watching Netflix. I’m ok."
He posted that quick update on Instagram to silence the talk after seeing strangers posting tributes to him online. He didn't hide his annoyance at the situation, calling out the people spreading the misinformation and questioning how anyone could just make up such a serious lie about his life. He even shared a screenshot of one of these false tributes, asking exactly who the "stupid person" was behind it.
SAPS Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed that the police are indeed investigating a murder in Table View, though they haven't identified the victim publicly yet. He noted that the two attackers fled on foot after grabbing the man's belongings, adding that the motive for the attack is still under investigation. For now, the authorities are warning people against sharing unverified videos and posts, which often cause unnecessary pain for the families involved.
This isn't the first time Joel Booysen has dealt with his name surfacing in violent headlines. He is the owner of the Sneaker Cartel and Jet Lounge nightclub, and he was once quite close with the late rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes. Back in 2023, he actually survived two different attempts on his life, which were widely linked to ongoing rivalries between gangs in the Cape Town underworld.
His father, Jerome “Donkie” Booysen, is a well-known figure in the Western Cape, leading the Sexy Boys gang alongside his brothers, Colin and Michael. While Jerome has made a name for himself as a businessman with big interests in real estate, he’s also had a long, complicated history with law enforcement. Before he entered the world of gang leadership, he was a talented rugby player, showing how varied and strange the paths people take in this city can be.
The Sexy Boys gang has been accused of everything from drug running to ordering hits on their enemies for years. Jerome Booysen himself has been frequently mentioned in police reports, including allegations connecting him to the death of Brian Wainstein, who was famously dubbed the 'Steroid King' of Cape Town. It’s a heavy legacy to carry, and it explains why every time a bullet flies in the Mother City, people are quick to look at the Booysen family.
The Anatomy of the Table View Shooting
The incident in Table View highlights just how quickly misinformation travels in the social media era, where a video can be misidentified before the body is even cold. Investigators are currently scrubbing through CCTV footage to identify the two gunmen who performed the brazen daylight hit. Without official confirmation from SAPS, the victim’s name remains a mystery, though the severity of the attack suggests a professional job rather than a random mugging.
For residents of Table View, which is typically a quiet, upscale suburb, the brazenness of the attack is particularly shocking. The killers showed zero fear of being caught, fleeing on foot while leaving witnesses in total disbelief. As the investigation moves forward, local police are under pressure to prevent this from turning into another unsolved cold case in a region already struggling with gang-related violence.
It is worth remembering that for the people caught in the middle of these turf wars, life is often measured in narrow escapes. Joel Booysen’s survival in previous years has made him a lightning rod for speculation whenever violence erupts. By choosing to stay inside and watch the US crime drama Nemesis, he effectively signaled that he isn't interested in playing into the drama that his last name seems to attract constantly. The truth is, the streets of Cape Town are rarely quiet, and for those born into the world of the 'Sexy Boys', the shadow of the past is never far away.