Embattled former City Mayco member for Human Settlements Malusi Booi appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s court along with nine other people accused of fraud and racketeering. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Former City of Cape Town Mayco member Malusi Booi, in court on racketeering and fraud charges, allegedly colluded with alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield and his wife Nicole Johnson’s enterprise.
The State argues that by allegedly doing so, Booi and his nine co-accused contravened the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca) through a pattern of racketeering (a Schedule 6 offence) and money laundering.
They will once again appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday on tender corruption charges. Booi’s co-accused include Suraya Manuel, Abdul Kader, Mohammad Amod, Randal Mullins, Brenda Mullins, Thuli Imbgi, Nomvuyo Mnyaka, Lorna Ndoda and Siphokazi September.
The 10 are accused of having colluded and benefited from 11 tenders issued by the City to the value of about R850 million.
While State prosecutor Nathan Adriaanse indicated that they had a prima facie case against the accused, the 10 stated they would plead not guilty to the charges.
Adriaanse gave a brief overview of the allegations against the 10, saying that Booi was employed at the City when the offences were committed. The State would bring evidence in the form of handwriting and linguistic reports to support their case, which includes bank records, signatures, tender applications and witness statements.
“The allegations are that Ralph Stanfield and Nicole Johnson had businesses that they had tendered for and through some or other influence of (Booi), there were tenders granted to them through their businesses and there was collusion involved by different companies under the umbrella of Stanfield and Johnson in relation to tender processes.
“I can place it on record that Suraya Manuel, as she states in her affidavit, works for Glomix. Glomix is headed up by Johnson and Stanfield and they had numerous tenders granted to them.
And Manuel was the one that dealt with the documentation and the administrative side of the tendering process,” said Adriaanse.
The State also alleges that Imbgi’s company which issues BEE certificates – which according to the State cost R4 000 – was paid R59 000 in order to sign the certificates.
Mnyaka, Booi’s ex-wife, is alleged to have received a Rolex watch with an estimated value of R690 000 and a R20 000 cash payment for her involvement in the “corrupt tendering process” for Stanfield and Johnson.
The State further alleged that Mnyaka is said to have received R500 000 “in numerous payments paid into her bank account”.
Mnyaka’s alleged money laundering was detailed in that she received the payments into her bank account from Stanfield and Johnson and from her account, she made payments into Booi’s bank account.
“We can ball-park the value of the corruption and money laundering at about R4.5 million. There was R3.5 million in cash paid by certain companies to Booi and then there were other items that make up the rest of (the amount) which includes the Rolex watches,” said Adriaanse.
Eight of the accused were arrested earlier this week in different locations including the Eastern Cape, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Booi was fired from his Mayco member for human settlements position shortly after he was implicated in the matter last year.
DA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp confirmed Booi resigned from the party after he was suspended.
“When the allegations against Booi came to light, the DA immediately acted and suspended him from all party activities. Booi then subsequently resigned from DA membership in 2023.
“That also put a halt to any disciplinary actions the DA took against Booi as he was no longer a member,” said Aucamp.
Cape Times