Cape Town - Embattled former DA Mayco member Malusi Booi is set to go on trial alongside alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield as the web spun by Cape Town’s construction mafia unravels, resulting in a tender corruption case entailing a whopping R1 billion.
This comes more than a year after City of Cape Town manager Lungelo Mbadanzayo undertook a mammoth investigation into the links between City officials in the human settlements department, formerly headed by Booi, and companies associated with or owned by Stanfield and his wife, Nicole Johnson.
State prosecutors dropped bombshells in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday when they revealed that Stanfield is also now being charged with the murder of Hard Livings gang boss Rashied Staggie, who was gunned down outside his Salt River home in December 2019.
Both matters were heard in the same courtroom as Stanfield appeared first via an online meeting from Brandvlei Prison where he is in custody in a different matter.
Booi was busted alongside Suraya Manual, Abdul Kader Davids, Mohammed Amod, Brenda and Randall Mullins, Thuli Mgibi, former wife Nomvuyo Mnyaka, ex-girlfriend Lorna Ndoda and former colleague Siphokazi September.
On Friday it was revealed that Booi is accused of using his influence and abusing his power to ensure that the notorious couple obtained government tenders worth R1bn as opposed to R850 million as stated earlier this week.
Prior to Booi’s appearance, Stanfield appeared via an online meeting along with his wife and several other accused.
The group are facing a slew of charges including the murder of slain City staffer Wendy Kloppers, who was killed at a housing development site amid extortion threats. It was Kloppers’ death which sparked the investigation.
Gasps were heard when State prosecutor advocate Frank van Heerden said the State was also now charging Stanfield for Staggie’s murder.
During bail arguments, the State did not oppose Booi’s release but his lawyer, Luzuko Guma, told the court his client could not afford the proposed R200 000 bail and instead proposed R5 000.
Earlier this week the State said the investigation revealed that Booi had banked a whopping R2.5m in cash from the Stanfields and in addition was gifted larney Rolex watches worth R2m.
Mnyaka’s legal representative, Ben Matthewson, revealed that Mnyaka had separated from Booi years ago and obtained an interim protection order in 2022. He claimed the Rolex watch and R20 000 given to Mnyaka had been a gift from “husband to wife”.
But State prosecutor advocate Nathan Adriaanse lashed back, saying the larney watch worth R690 000 was gifted to her by Stanfield along with the money.
Matthewson also provided insurance papers, saying the watch was only covered for R79 000, adding that his client was not involved in obtaining or the granting of tenders.
Among others in the dock alongside Booi are the directors of two companies accused of tender collusion.
Earlier this year the Cape Argus revealed that the two companies, who may not be named at this stage, were outed amid an investigation by Mbadanzayo for colluding with Glomix CC, which is owned by Johnson.
Manual, who worked for Glomixx CC, was arrested earlier this year alongside Stanfield’s younger brother, Kyle, for allegedly defeating the ends of justice by trying to destroy company documents.
She was later released on R10 000 bail. Brenda and Randall Mullins from RJ Mullins developers, who are accused of accepting R735 000 from the construction mafia on behalf of Booi, were found to have a whopping R20m in their account.
Court documents have also lifted the lid on allegations against September, who is the former Director of Public Housing.
In January this year the Weekend Argus revealed that she had been sacked by the City as the spotlight fell on her shortly after Booi was removed as Mayco member.
Documents in possession of the Weekend Argus show that on the day police raided Booi’s offices they also obtained a warrant for September, where police seized various electronic devices for their investigation into her links with the construction mafia.
The search warrants show that along with Booi and September, police obtained permission to search offices and properties owned by Johnson, Stanfield and Jerome “Donkie” Booysen.
September later complained, saying the information was “false, defamatory, misinformed and unsubstantiated”.
However, court documents revealed that the State alleged that in the period between November and December 2023, September agreed to accept gratifications from Booi and influence the tender processes.
The case was postponed to Tuesday when the magistrate is expected to announce her decision regarding bail and the amounts each accused will have to pay for their freedom.