'I got no chance for a fair trial', says Stanfield

“I got no chance for a fair trial, I’m basically already sentenced." 

These were the words of alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield who made his first pre-trial hearing appearance via camera on Friday at the Western Cape High Court.

Stanfield's complainants include that he is being held with convicted criminals and that officials don’t allow him to contact his wife, Nicole Johnson. 

Stanfield and Johnson, together with others, face 41 charges under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), including murder, attempted murder, fraud, illegal firearms possession, possession of unlawful ammunition and conspiracy to commit murder.

He said that his constitutional right to give instructions to his lawyer has been infringed.

He said: “I appeared last in a physical open court in mid-2024 and there will always be certain in aspects that I need to instruct my lawyer about the matters and processes in court.

“I got no lawyer confidentially to give him instructions accordingly. I felt always that my right to a fair trial as guaranteed in our constitution has been infringed. I humbly plea that I appear physically at all times in court.

“I got no chance for a fair trial, I’m basically already sentenced, my Lord. I’m with sentenced people and it’s dangerous. I got none of my awaiting trial privileges, they don’t give me access to my education.

“It's terrible, they don’t even allow me to contact my wife. They are doing as they please with me.”

Stanfield’s attorney Johan Eksteen told the Daily Voice that his client was transferred from Brandvlei Correctional Centre in Worcester to Helderstroom in Caledon on August 22.

Eksteen said: “We have written a letter to the prison officials that we cannot understand why he is being detained in that prison. 

“He was never subjected to any hearing or anything to say that he is a high risk prisoner, because that centre is basically just to facilitate the sentenced prisoners whereby he is not a sentenced prisoner.”

According to court documents, they are linked to The Firm gang and are accused of being involved in a pattern of criminal activity from November 2019 to November 2023.

Eksteen added: “We don’t know the reason why he was transferred and kept there and it is clear according to the indictment as well that he should be detained in the Pollsmoor Correctional Centre where there is a centre for current awaiting trial detainees.”

Johnson is being held at Pollsmoor, however Eksteen said that it should not be an issue for them both to be at the same facility as female detainees are held in another centre.

Judge Mark Sher said that Stanfield’s concerns should be taken up with the prison authorities and for them to make time to see and consult with him.

The case was postponed to June 12, 2026 for another pre-trial hearing, with a proposed trial date set in October 2026.

Cape Times