Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has called on the Passenger Railway Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to conduct a full investigation into alleged gang links connected to contracts tied to the reconstruction of the City’s Central Line railway.

The mayor’s call follows an Amabhungane investigative report, which alleges that alleged underworld figure Ralph Stanfield and his wife, Nicole Johnson, may have benefited from security subcontracting opportunities linked to the multibillion-rand project.

According to the report, disruptions and security concerns surrounding the rebuilding of the Central Line created pressure for additional protection services. It is alleged that companies linked to Stanfield and Johnson subsequently positioned themselves as subcontractors within the project’s reconstruction contracts.

One security company, Mzansi Securifire, is reported to have received approximately R600 million in Central Line contracts between 2022 and 2024.

Hill-Lewis said the allegations raised serious concerns about possible criminal infiltration into public infrastructure projects.

“I am calling on Prasa to suspend the implicated officials pending a full investigation, establish the total amount of contract-funding that flowed to gang-linked companies, and pursue the black-listing of those companies where applicable,” said Hill-Lewis

He added that government institutions must act decisively to prevent public funds from supporting organised crime.

“The state must shut down all potential avenues of funding to gangsterism, and root out corrupt officials working with the underworld.”

Further concerns were raised about the alleged involvement of a senior officer from the South African Police Service (SAPS).

According to the report, the then-acting station commander at Bishop Lavis allegedly arranged a meeting at Manenberg Police Station in September 2022 between Prasa officials, contractors and representatives of security companies linked to Stanfield.

It is alleged that the companies were presented as potential solutions to ongoing security challenges affecting the project.

Hill-Lewis has called on the SAPS Western Cape Provincial Commissioner to investigate the circumstances surrounding the meeting and determine whether any officials improperly promoted companies with alleged gang links.

“The implications of gang infiltration into SAPS are simply too serious to ignore.”