Latest news with #MalusiBooi
The Herald
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Stanfield gang trial looms as prosecutors push to reinstate R1bn fraud charges
The prosecution is pulling all the stops to reinstate charges in the R1bn Cape Town housing tender fraud case before alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield appears in the high court on gang-related charges in November. The prosecution provisionally withdrew fraud charges against Stanfield and former human settlements MMC Malusi Booi, and several others, in May. Stanfield, his wife Nicole Johnson and 13 other accused appeared in the Cape Town magistrate's on Monday on 41 counts. They range from murder to attempted murder, possession of illegal firearms and robbery. The matter was transferred to the high court in Cape Town for trial. They will make their first appearance in the high court on November 7. Eric Ntabazalila, the spokesperson for the prosecution, said the charges only related to 'murder, being a member of a gang, possession of illegal firearms, illegal possession of ammunition and robbery'. He said the state hopes all charges withdrawn in the R1bn city tender fraud matter will be reinstated against all the accused before Stanfield and Johnson's matter is heard in the high court. 'You will remember that the cases that involve financial crimes, including the City of Cape Town tender, were withdrawn because the investigation continues. We hope that investigation can be completed before the other matter goes to the high court on November 7,' said Ntabazalila. 'The investigation is continuing. We hope that it will be finalised in the next month or two. Our hope and plans are that when everyone goes to the high court, they will be joined by the group whose charges were withdrawn.' Stanfield, Johnson and a few others appeared virtually from the various prisons where they are held. Meanwhile, a group of people picketed and brandished placards outside court in support of Stanfield. 'Stanfield is kept in solitary ... for almost two years,' one placard read. Another placard accused the police anti-gang unit (GNU) of underhanded tactics. It read: 'The AGU uses illegal modus operandi to arrest and to incriminate the Common Man ...' After the hearing, the picketers neatly packed the placards into black refuse bags. The 13-page indictment that was read to the accused in court lists a slew of serious charges. It alleges that the accused were members of the ''The Firm' criminal gang, operating in Milnerton, Wynberg, Bishop Lavis, Kraaifontein, Parow, Somerset West, Belhar, Green Point, Kuils River and Bluedowns'. '... The 'criminal gang' comprises a group of three or more individuals, including Ralph Israel Stanfield, Nicole Tracey Johnson, Johannes Abrahams, Denver Booysen, Jose Brandt, Jonathan Cloete, Abraham Wilson, Shakeel Pelston, lmtyaas Sedick, Warren Lee Dennis, Michael Morris, Chevonne McNabb, Sharazaadht Essop, Brandon Conelius, Donovan van Wyk and Keathan Gardiner,' the indictment reads. According to the indictment, a 'criminal gang' has a formal or informal structure, with members holding ranks or leadership roles based on a system loosely inspired by the '28s' prison gang, though not always strictly followed outside prison. '... The accused are all members of 'THE FIRM' 'Criminal Gang' and were all members thereof at all times relevant to the indictment,' the indictment reads. According to the indictment, the alleged gang operated in parts of Cape Town between November 2019 and November 2023. Stanfield is accused of fraud linked to a 'black BMW'. He allegedly falsely claimed to a police officer in November 2022 that he was the owner of the car, 'with the intent to defraud and to the prejudice or potential prejudice of the name of the complainant'. According to the indictment, the 'victim is not disclosed' for safety purposes. Johnson allegedly pretended to be 'an employee of Tracker' and 'that she was the lawful owner of a black BMW'. 'She knew she was not the lawful owner of said motor vehicle,' the indictment reads. All 15 accused, including Stanfield and Johnson, are accused of robbery. They allegedly assaulted one of the victims in Valhalla Park in January 2023 and stole her Toyota Fortuner worth R170,000. Stanfield is also charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, which were found at his Constantia home in September 2023. 'On September 29 2023 the police proceeded to the home of [Stanfield] and [Johnson[ to arrest them,' the indictment reads. 'The police requested [Stanfield] and another male to lie on the ground. While on the ground the police spotted [Stanfield] trying to hand a key to another male. The police took the key and established that it is a safe key. The police opened the safe and found the firearm and ammunition ... [Stanfield] did not possess a licence for the said firearm and ammunition. He was thereafter arrested.' TimesLIVE
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Malusi Booi on why safety boss JP Smith and City manager ‘targeted' him
Former Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Malusi Booi. Image: File Picture: David Ritchie/African News Agency (ANA) Safety and Security mayco member JP Smith has defended himself against claims by his former human settlements colleague Malusi Booi's that he was central to a political witch-hunt, which led to his downfall including being arrested over charges that have been subsequently withdrawn. The Cape Times reported this week that Booi had implicated two senior City officials as being behind the raid to his offices last year, leading to his arrest over alleged tender collusion. The two officials he implicated are Smith and City manager Lungelo Mbandazayo. 'I know it's the two of them. I've got it on record.' He said Smith had made statements saying he was the one who gave police information while Mbandazayo made remarks in a CCMA case that 'he wanted to deal with me harshly'. Booi believed that his woes began when he did not support Mbandazayo's reappointment amid social delivery concerns. He said Smith and the municipal manager were friends, which he believed could have motivated alleged moves against him. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ JP Smith Image: File picture Smith told the Cape Times on Tuesday that he reported any wrongdoing to relevant authorities as he was 'ethically bound' to do. Mbandazayo did not respond to requests for comment. 'As stated previously, each time potential wrong doing within the City of Cape Town came to my attention, I reported the allegations to the relevant authorities for investigation as I am legally mandated and ethically bound to do. I am not privy to any details regarding the SAPS investigations into the allegations against Mr Booi. The public statement issued by the NPA makes it clear that the criminal charges against Mr Booi have only been provisionally withdrawn pending investigations into newly discovered evidence,' said Smith.
IOL News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
I'm a victim of witch hunt, says ex-city housing boss
Former human settlements mayco member Malusi Booi. Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers FORMER human settlements mayco member Malusi Booi has implicated two senior City officials in what he described as a witch hunt leading to his arrest over tender collusion charges, which the National Prosecuting Authority subsequently withdrew on Friday. Booi was arrested last year, one year after his offices were raided and his electronic equipment seized. The charges against him related to alleged tender collusion linked to construction companies owned by alleged underworld figures such as Stanfield and his wife Nicole Johnson. In an exclusive interview with the Cape Times yesterday, Booi spoke of what he believed led to his arrest, his time as the mayoral committee member and his future in politics. 'I do think it was (a political witch hunt), it has been confirmed on a number of platforms because in the first place there was no R1 billion tender fraud. Even if something happened at the supply chain, I don't have any control on who gets to be appointed or not being appointed. I've got no role in appointing contractors. I was viewed as someone who awarded a contract to a contractor, the people who did that knew very well that it does not exist because that is purely administrative, it is done by City officials. It is not done by politicians, our role is purely oversight. We meet contractors that had already been appointed on site. "The company in question was never appointed by the City, they were appointed by the provincial government in 2014. I was not even working for the City at the time, so there was no way I could have championed the appointment. I joined in 2016, appointed as sub council chairperson for subcouncil 21. I only joined human settlements in December 2018. It was four years later that the company was appointed. I was taken aback when I was accused of facilitating this appointment," he said. Upon his own investigations, Booi said he learned that the tenders in question were even cancelled before they were awarded. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'There was a narrative created that the City lost a billion when they knew the City never lost a cent. There was no money taken but the impression created was that Malusi ran away with a R1billion, I mean, it's not possible. No money lost by the City. During my tenure we achieved 99.3% of delivery. So I was shocked to understand that all of a sudden there are these issues.' He said he knew who was behind the orchestrated move against him. He said one of the officials had made statements saying he was the one who gave police information about Booi, while another made remarks in a CCMA case that 'he wanted to deal with me harshly'. Asked why he would be the target of these attacks, Booi said he was not in favour and did not support the re-appointment of one of the officials. 'A lot of things were not going right under his watch, a lot of service delivery issues.' Booi said the entire saga had been draining both psychologically and physically. 'It took a (huge) toll on my family but I am relieved now all these charges have been dropped so that one can continue with life. From day one, when they came to the office, it has always been a very difficult moment but I've tried to remain calm under the situation. I lost my job that I enjoyed doing the most. It's been very stressful.' Booi said he would not be considering returning to the City given the opportunity to do so. He plans to settle in the Eastern Cape where he wants to focus on a family-run farming business.
IOL News
26-05-2025
- IOL News
Ralph Stanfield R1 billion housing tender fraud: Police vow investigation is still ative
Alleged leader of the 28s gang, Ralph Stanfield. Image: Willem Law/File Police in the Western Cape said their investigation into alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield and others remains on course. This, despite the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) provisionally withdrawing commercial charges against the group on Friday, May 23. The charges related to a R1 billion housing tender fraud case. The group who saw the charges withdrawn included Stanfield, his wife, Nicole Johnson, former City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for human settlements Malusi Booi, and seven others. The scandal escalated during Booi's term in office, as accusations emerged that he, along with the Stanfields, had manipulated housing tenders to benefit companies under their influence. The allegations suggested a web of corruption aimed at misappropriating public funds intended for housing development. Malusi Booi appears in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers The Western Cape police spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, said this is not uncommon in complex investigations for the direction of the investigation to change in recognition of new and additional information that emerges as part of the investigation. 'It is not uncommon in complex investigations for the direction of the investigation to change in recognition of new and additional information that emerges as part of the investigation. Even in this case, when the commercial crimes investigators became privy to new information, that had to be incorporated into the investigation. Suffice it to indicate that it is envisaged that the commercial charges provisionally withdrawn will be reinstated in due course,' Potelwa said. Police have assured that the charges being provisionally withdrawn in no way indicate a failure on the part of investigators. 'Rather, a change in direction, taking into account the legal framework within which, as a law enforcement agency, the SAPS is compelled to operate,' Potelwa said. Western Cape for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, explained why the charges were provisionally withdrawn. 'Police discovered new evidence during their investigation, and it is apposite at this stage to provisionally withdraw the 16 commercial charges against the accused pending the finalisation of the investigation stemming from the newfound evidence. The State will reinstate the charges once the investigation has been finalised,' he said. [email protected] IOL Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Eyewitness News
24-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
Provisional withdrawal of fraud charges against Stanfield, others not sign of investigators' failure: WC police
Ntuthuzelo Nene 24 May 2025 | 9:06 Malusi Booi Ralph Stanfield South African Police Service (SAPS) FILE: Malusi Booi (left) and his co-accused appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates Court on 31 January 2025. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/EWN CAPE TOWN - Western Cape police said the provisional withdrawal of commercial crime charges against 28's gang boss Ralph Stanfield, and others, is by no means an indication of failure on the part of investigators. Stanfield, his wife, Nicole Johnson, City of Cape Town ousted Human Settlements MMC Malusi Booi, and more than 20 others were linked to a R1 billion tender fraud within the city's Human Settlements directorate. However, the State had decided to withdraw the fraud charges against Stanfield, Johnson, Booi, and nine others, citing new evidence that has come to light. The notorious couple and 12 others will remain behind bars to answer to a slew of gang-related charges, including murder. The prosecution told the Cape Town Magistrates Court that the provisional withdrawal of the charges doesn't mean those implicated are off the hook. Western Cape police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said it's common in complex cases like this to change the direction of an investigation due to the discovery of new information. "It is envisaged that the withdrawn charges will be reinstated in due course. As the South African Police Service in the Western Cape, we are confident that the investigation into the 14 accused is still on course." The case against Stanfield and 13 others has been postponed until July 14 for the State to provide further particulars to the defence before the case is transferred to the high court for a pretrial conference in November."
