The State says investigations into a R1 billion City of Cape Town tender fraud case, allegedly involving former housing MMC Malusi Booi and alleged 28s gang leader Ralph Stanfield, are continuing. This was after the charges were provisionally withdrawn in May.

It comes amid a new indictment against Stanfield and 14 others that was filed, detailing a series of charges including murder, attempted murder, robbery, fraud, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. The matter has been transferred to the Western Cape High Court for a pre-trial on 7 November 2025.

NPA Western Cape Spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila says they are hopeful the withdrawn charges, involving the economic charges, will also be reinstated, and more accused will be added to the growing list.

The charges in the new indictment include multiple premeditated killings, including the assassination of Rashied Staggie, a leader of the rival Hard Livings gang, in December 2019. Other victims include alleged 27s gang member William ‘Red’ Stevens, police officer Faizel Adams, and City of Cape Town housing official, Wendy Kloppers, among others.

The sprawling indictment against the 15 alleged members of the notorious criminal gang “The Firm” details a litany of charges. The accused, led by Ralph Stanfield, are alleged to have engaged in a violent campaign across Cape Town and surrounding areas from 2019 to 2023.

The indictment, spanning 41 counts, accuses the gang of operating under a structured hierarchy inspired by the “28” prison gang, with Stanfield identified as its leader.

Key Incidents

The indictment outlines several high-profile incidents:

• Assassination of Rashied Staggie: Accused 1 (Stanfield), 6, 8, and 13 allegedly conspired to kill Staggie, a rival gang leader, in Salt River in December 2019. The murder was carried out in broad daylight, with Staggie succumbing to multiple gunshot wounds.
• Targeted Attacks on Rivals: The gang is accused of systematically targeting members of rival groups, including the 27s, Hard Livings, and Dixie Boys, in areas like Kraaifontein, Belhar, and Delft.
• Violent Robberies: In one incident, the gang allegedly assaulted a complainant and stole a Toyota Fortuner, later torching the vehicle.
• Attempted Murder of a Police Officer: The indictment details an attack on a SAPS officer linked to the Ghetto Kids gang, highlighting the gang’s brazen disregard for law enforcement.

The case is being prosecuted under POCA, which defines a criminal gang as a group of three or more individuals engaged in ongoing criminal activities with identifiable signs or symbols. The State alleges that “The Firm” meets this definition, with members displaying tattoos of the gang’s name and operating under a strict hierarchy.