All Article Properties:
{
"access_control": false,
"status": "publish",
"objectType": "Article",
"id": "2732015",
"signature": "Article:2732015",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-23-fraud-charges-against-malusi-booi-in-r1bn-tender-case-dropped-for-now/",
"shorturl": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2732015",
"slug": "fraud-charges-against-malusi-booi-in-r1bn-tender-case-dropped-for-now",
"contentType": {
"id": "1",
"name": "Article",
"slug": "article"
},
"views": 0,
"comments": 2,
"preview_limit": null,
"excludedFromGoogleSearchEngine": 0,
"title": "Fraud charges against Malusi Booi, Ralph Stanfield in R1bn tender case dropped, for now",
"firstPublished": "2025-05-23 14:11:23",
"lastUpdate": "2025-05-23 15:31:05",
"categories": [
{
"id": "387188",
"name": "Maverick News",
"signature": "Category:387188",
"slug": "maverick-news",
"typeId": {
"typeId": "1",
"name": "Daily Maverick",
"slug": "",
"includeInIssue": "0",
"shortened_domain": "",
"stylesheetClass": "",
"domain": "staging.dailymaverick.co.za",
"articleUrlPrefix": "",
"access_groups": "[]",
"locale": "",
"preview_limit": null
},
"parentId": null,
"parent": [],
"image": "",
"cover": "",
"logo": "",
"paid": "0",
"objectType": "Category",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/category/maverick-news/",
"cssCode": "",
"template": "default",
"tagline": "",
"link_param": null,
"description": "",
"metaDescription": "",
"order": "0",
"pageId": null,
"articlesCount": null,
"allowComments": "1",
"accessType": "freecount",
"status": "1",
"children": [],
"cached": true
}
],
"content_length": 3475,
"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The corruption case against former City of Cape Town councillor Malusi Booi, alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield, Stanfield’s wife Nicole Johnson, and nine others was provisionally withdrawn on Friday, 23 May 2025. The former mayoral committee member was arrested in September 2024 and faced charges relating to alleged unlawful tenders worth more than R1-billion.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a short appearance at the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court for Booi and his co-accused. </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Booi was dressed in a black jacket and pants and shortly after his appearance alongside his former wife, it was announced that the charges against him had been dropped. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2362567\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ED_520596.jpg\" alt=\"Ex-Cape Town mayco member Malusi Booi\" width=\"1565\" height=\"1055\" /> <em>Ex-Cape Town mayco member Malusi Booi and co-accused at Cape Town Magistrates' Court on 13 September 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)</em></p>\r\n\r\nThen the announcement came that charges against his co-accused would also be provisionally withdrawn. The other accused in the case were: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suraya Manuel, Muhammed Amod, Randal Mullins, Brenda Mullins, Thuli Imgib, Nomvuyo Mnyaka, Lorna Ndoda, Siphokazi September, Kyle Stanfield, Barbara Johnson, and Pakamisa Nondabula.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Western Cape spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said, “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.”</span>\r\n<h4><b>Fired after raid</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Booi was a member of the DA and MMC for Human Settlements when it was announced in March 2023 that he had been fired by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis after a raid at his office. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the time, he </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-10-31-ex-cape-town-mayco-member-malusi-booi-quits-as-councillor/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">told Daily Maverick</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that he wanted to clear his name. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was arrested on charges related to fraud, money laundering and corruption and was granted bail of R250,000. He was alleged to have played a central role </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-11-court-told-malusi-booi-part-of-suspected-28s-gang-boss-ralph-stanfields-multimillion-rand-tender-enterprise/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in a tender enterprise</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including Stanfield and his wife, Nicole Johnson. </span>\r\n\r\n<strong>Read more:</strong> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-11-court-told-malusi-booi-part-of-suspected-28s-gang-boss-ralph-stanfields-multimillion-rand-tender-enterprise/\">Court told Malusi Booi part of suspected 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield’s ‘multimillion-rand tender enterprise’</a>\r\n<h4><b>‘I maintain my innocence’</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the hearing on Friday, Booi posted on social media platform X that he maintained his innocence. </span>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I would like to take this opportunity to thank my 84 year old mother, my ancestors, my partner, my entire family, friends, Nitta & crew, Manxasana & crew for their unwavering support & belief in my innocence!</p>\r\nThanks to the Nkomo Foundation ?\r\n\r\nI maintain my innocence ? <a href=\"https://t.co/LgFHkPBPDk\">pic.twitter.com/LgFHkPBPDk</a>\r\n\r\n— Malusi Booi (@MalusiBooi) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/MalusiBooi/status/1925842477677789633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 23, 2025</a></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stanfield and the other co-accused were still appearing in court at the time of writing. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The state wants to transfer their case to the Western Cape High Court in November 2025, while Stanfield and other defendants questioned why their case was being postponed yet again. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before proceedings began, a small group of about 20 people held signs calling for Stanfield to be released. They also claimed the “media is controlling the narrative and the mind of the masses”. The group, which largely consisted of elderly women, were holding signs and did not speak to the media.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just last week, </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-18-stanfield-wife-nicole-johnson-spends-r5m-on-sea-point-flat-while-in-prison/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">amaBhungane reported</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> how Johnson had bought a luxury R5-million flat in Sea Point, despite her being in jail. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article was updated on 23 May 2025 to include that charges were dropped against all accused and add the NPA’s comment.</span></i>",
"teaser": "Fraud charges against Malusi Booi, Ralph Stanfield in R1bn tender case dropped, for now",
"externalUrl": "",
"sponsor": null,
"authors": [
{
"id": "1642",
"name": "Suné Payne",
"image": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Sune-Payne-Opinionista.jpg",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/author/sune-payne/",
"editorialName": "sune-payne",
"department": "",
"name_latin": ""
}
],
"description": "",
"keywords": [
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "3746",
"name": "Cape Town",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/cape-town/",
"slug": "cape-town",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Cape Town",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "4246",
"name": "Crime",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/crime/",
"slug": "crime",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Crime",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "49516",
"name": "courts",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/courts/",
"slug": "courts",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "courts",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "146546",
"name": "Malusi Booi",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/malusi-booi/",
"slug": "malusi-booi",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Malusi Booi",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "262328",
"name": "Ralph Stanfield",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/ralph-stanfield/",
"slug": "ralph-stanfield",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Ralph Stanfield",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "384560",
"name": "Suné Payne",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/sune-payne/",
"slug": "sune-payne",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Suné Payne",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "398095",
"name": "Nicole Johnson",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/nicole-johnson/",
"slug": "nicole-johnson",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Nicole Johnson",
"translations": null
}
}
],
"short_summary": null,
"source": null,
"related": [],
"options": [],
"attachments": [
{
"id": "77337",
"name": "Ex-Cape Town mayco member Malusi Booi and co-accused at Cape Town Magistrates' Court on 13 September 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The corruption case against former City of Cape Town councillor Malusi Booi, alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield, Stanfield’s wife Nicole Johnson, and nine others was provisionally withdrawn on Friday, 23 May 2025. The former mayoral committee member was arrested in September 2024 and faced charges relating to alleged unlawful tenders worth more than R1-billion.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a short appearance at the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court for Booi and his co-accused. </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Booi was dressed in a black jacket and pants and shortly after his appearance alongside his former wife, it was announced that the charges against him had been dropped. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2362567\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1565\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2362567\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ED_520596.jpg\" alt=\"Ex-Cape Town mayco member Malusi Booi\" width=\"1565\" height=\"1055\" /> <em>Ex-Cape Town mayco member Malusi Booi and co-accused at Cape Town Magistrates' Court on 13 September 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen the announcement came that charges against his co-accused would also be provisionally withdrawn. The other accused in the case were: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suraya Manuel, Muhammed Amod, Randal Mullins, Brenda Mullins, Thuli Imgib, Nomvuyo Mnyaka, Lorna Ndoda, Siphokazi September, Kyle Stanfield, Barbara Johnson, and Pakamisa Nondabula.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Western Cape spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said, “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.”</span>\r\n<h4><b>Fired after raid</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Booi was a member of the DA and MMC for Human Settlements when it was announced in March 2023 that he had been fired by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis after a raid at his office. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the time, he </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-10-31-ex-cape-town-mayco-member-malusi-booi-quits-as-councillor/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">told Daily Maverick</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that he wanted to clear his name. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was arrested on charges related to fraud, money laundering and corruption and was granted bail of R250,000. He was alleged to have played a central role </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-11-court-told-malusi-booi-part-of-suspected-28s-gang-boss-ralph-stanfields-multimillion-rand-tender-enterprise/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in a tender enterprise</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including Stanfield and his wife, Nicole Johnson. </span>\r\n\r\n<strong>Read more:</strong> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-11-court-told-malusi-booi-part-of-suspected-28s-gang-boss-ralph-stanfields-multimillion-rand-tender-enterprise/\">Court told Malusi Booi part of suspected 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield’s ‘multimillion-rand tender enterprise’</a>\r\n<h4><b>‘I maintain my innocence’</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the hearing on Friday, Booi posted on social media platform X that he maintained his innocence. </span>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I would like to take this opportunity to thank my 84 year old mother, my ancestors, my partner, my entire family, friends, Nitta & crew, Manxasana & crew for their unwavering support & belief in my innocence!</p>\r\nThanks to the Nkomo Foundation ?\r\n\r\nI maintain my innocence ? <a href=\"https://t.co/LgFHkPBPDk\">pic.twitter.com/LgFHkPBPDk</a>\r\n\r\n— Malusi Booi (@MalusiBooi) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/MalusiBooi/status/1925842477677789633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 23, 2025</a></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stanfield and the other co-accused were still appearing in court at the time of writing. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The state wants to transfer their case to the Western Cape High Court in November 2025, while Stanfield and other defendants questioned why their case was being postponed yet again. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before proceedings began, a small group of about 20 people held signs calling for Stanfield to be released. They also claimed the “media is controlling the narrative and the mind of the masses”. The group, which largely consisted of elderly women, were holding signs and did not speak to the media.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just last week, </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-18-stanfield-wife-nicole-johnson-spends-r5m-on-sea-point-flat-while-in-prison/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">amaBhungane reported</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> how Johnson had bought a luxury R5-million flat in Sea Point, despite her being in jail. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article was updated on 23 May 2025 to include that charges were dropped against all accused and add the NPA’s comment.</span></i>",
"focal": "50% 50%",
"width": 0,
"height": 0,
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ED_520824.jpg",
"transforms": [
{
"x": "200",
"y": "100",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/M3BmFDJMGLhJt8Sj14e6vn2K7PA=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ED_520824.jpg"
},
{
"x": "450",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/SQ5xhu682ZxK1jsSlr_4QBHe6XA=/450x0/smart/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ED_520824.jpg"
},
{
"x": "800",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/0TMneekQbYvp7-u0SXwjLJfAuS4=/800x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ED_520824.jpg"
},
{
"x": "1200",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/Ojp8X_jyX4m1c9HSybGU1Db9AnM=/1200x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ED_520824.jpg"
},
{
"x": "1600",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/5w2k4hNqu6dLWtXO6aYmZl3EQ_M=/1600x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ED_520824.jpg"
}
],
"url_thumbnail": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/M3BmFDJMGLhJt8Sj14e6vn2K7PA=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ED_520824.jpg",
"url_medium": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/SQ5xhu682ZxK1jsSlr_4QBHe6XA=/450x0/smart/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ED_520824.jpg",
"url_large": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/0TMneekQbYvp7-u0SXwjLJfAuS4=/800x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ED_520824.jpg",
"url_xl": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/Ojp8X_jyX4m1c9HSybGU1Db9AnM=/1200x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ED_520824.jpg",
"url_xxl": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/5w2k4hNqu6dLWtXO6aYmZl3EQ_M=/1600x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ED_520824.jpg",
"type": "image"
}
],
"summary": "The case against former Cape Town mayoral committee member Malusi Booi, alleged gang boss Ralph Stanfield and 10 others, involving allegations of unlawfully awarded tenders worth more than R1bn, was provisionally withdrawn on Friday. \r\n",
"template_type": null,
"dm_custom_section_label": null,
"elements": [],
"seo": {
"search_title": "Fraud charges against Malusi Booi, Ralph Stanfield in R1bn tender case dropped, for now",
"search_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The corruption case against former City of Cape Town councillor Malusi Booi, alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield, Stanfield’s wife Nicole Johnson, and nine others was",
"social_title": "Fraud charges against Malusi Booi, Ralph Stanfield in R1bn tender case dropped, for now",
"social_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The corruption case against former City of Cape Town councillor Malusi Booi, alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield, Stanfield’s wife Nicole Johnson, and nine others was",
"social_image": ""
},
"cached": true,
"access_allowed": true
} 
Ex-Cape Town mayco member Malusi Booi and co-accused at Cape Town Magistrates' Court on 13 September 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)