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Alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield limps into court alongside new accused in rapidly expanding case

Alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield limps into court alongside new accused in rapidly expanding case
Samane Jnr Marks, Caryn Dolley and Siyabonga Goni
By Samane Jnr Marks, Caryn Dolley and Siyabonga Goni
27 Jun 2024
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In September 2023, alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield and his wife Nicole Johnson were arrested in Cape Town in a car theft case. Now that matter has grown to include 11 other accused and a slew of criminal charges, including for murders.

Over two weeks, the case against alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield and his wife Nicole Johnson has rapidly grown into a matter involving 11 other suspects accused of crimes including murder.

The state has also alleged that the group is part of The Firm gang.

Stanfield and Johnson are now part of a case that consists of 13 accused and involves more than 30 criminal counts relating to murder, attempted murder and unlicensed firearms and ammunition. 

Number of accused growing


The 13 accused appeared together for the first time in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 27 June.

Stanfield and Johnson were arrested in September last year at their home in the upmarket Cape Town suburb of Constantia. At that stage, the case mostly hinged on charges stemming from the theft of a vehicle.

After they were detained, three more suspects – Denver Booysen, Johannes Abrahams and Jose Brandt – were taken into custody.

In the dock with four of those five (Brandt was absent) on Thursday were eight others who were arrested over the past two weeks.

The latest accused added to the case were Michael Morris, Chevonne McNabb and Sharazaadht Essop.

Between last week and this, Jonathan Cloete, Shakeel Pelston, Abraham Wilson, Warren Dennis and Imtiyaaz Sedick were arrested.

During Thursday’s proceedings, it emerged that another six arrests could be on the cards.

Security was tight, with police stationed around the courtroom. Only officers, journalists and legal representatives were allowed to attend the proceedings.

Limping and ‘no food’


When Stanfield made his way into the dock, he was limping heavily. Magistrate Alida Theart excused him from having to stand.

Stanfield immediately consulted with his legal representatives, including attorney Ross McKernan and instructing counsel Frans Mashele.

McKernan claimed that Stanfield had not been provided with food since noon on Wednesday and that Johnson had not been allowed to share her food with him.  

In response, Theart instructed the defence team to ensure that Stanfield received appropriate medical attention and proper care while in custody.

The court also heard that Pelston, McNabb (who has a prior conviction and served a two-year sentence) and Essop had abandoned their bail applications. 

State prosecutor Frank van Heerden told Theart that investigations in the case were ongoing. This included the review of “three death certificates”.

Postponement issues


Van Heerden requested a postponement to finalise investigations and suggested a date in September for the case to proceed.

McKernan said he hoped to see the case progress and that “this postponement be marked as final, given the state’s reliance on forensic evidence was obtained quicker than usual”.

McKernan indicated that the outstanding medical certificates and crime scene photos could be easily obtained. 

Luzuko Guma, representing Imtiyaaz Sedick, said they were ready to proceed with the case, adding that other accused “can’t be lingering in custody due to the state’s incomplete investigation”.

The matter was postponed to 13 September and the accused will appear via video link on that date.

Criminal gang


The group in court on Thursday, according to the charge sheet, is accused of being part of The Firm.

It explained that a criminal gang “has a formal and/or informal structure, in that members … carry distinguishing ranks and/or hold distinguishing positions of leadership and subservience in accordance with a ranking system traditionally inspired by the ranking system of the ‘28’ prison gang, but not strictly adhered to on a street level”.

The charge sheet also said the gang “has identifiable signs and symbols, including the words and/or the abbreviation ‘THE FIRM’”.

Shootings, murders


The collective charges in the merged case now extend to various shootings that took place in the city over the past few years. This includes the February 2023 murder of City of Cape Town official, Wendy Kloppers.

Kloppers was gunned down at the Symphony Way Housing Project building site in Delft.

Read more in Daily Maverick: Suspect arrested for Cape Town ‘construction mafia’ murder of city worker Wendy Kloppers

Some of the charges also relate to the attempted killing of Joel Booysen, the son of alleged Sexy Boys gang leader Jerome “Donkie” Booysen.

In May last year, Daily Maverick reported that Joel Booysen was wounded in a shooting in the Cape Town suburb of Green Point.

Read more in Daily Maverick: Three arrested for Cape Town shootings linked to gang violence

Other charges in the merged case are linked to the murder of William “Red” Stevens. Reputed to have been one of the most seasoned 27s gangsters in the Western Cape, he was shot outside his home in the Cape Town suburb of Kraaifontein in February 2021.

At the time of his murder, Stevens was set to go on trial in the Western Cape Division of the High Court along with other accused, including Jerome Booysen, in a case hinged on the August 2017 assassination of steroid smuggler Brian Wainstein. DM

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