Latest news with #MalusiBooi
IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Malusi Booi on why safety boss JP Smith and City manager ‘targeted' him
Former Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Malusi Booi. Image: File Picture: David Ritchie/African News Agency (ANA) Safety and Security mayco member JP Smith has defended himself against claims by his former human settlements colleague Malusi Booi's that he was central to a political witch-hunt, which led to his downfall including being arrested over charges that have been subsequently withdrawn. The Cape Times reported this week that Booi had implicated two senior City officials as being behind the raid to his offices last year, leading to his arrest over alleged tender collusion. The two officials he implicated are Smith and City manager Lungelo Mbandazayo. 'I know it's the two of them. I've got it on record.' He said Smith had made statements saying he was the one who gave police information while Mbandazayo made remarks in a CCMA case that 'he wanted to deal with me harshly'. Booi believed that his woes began when he did not support Mbandazayo's reappointment amid social delivery concerns. He said Smith and the municipal manager were friends, which he believed could have motivated alleged moves against him. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ JP Smith Image: File picture Smith told the Cape Times on Tuesday that he reported any wrongdoing to relevant authorities as he was 'ethically bound' to do. Mbandazayo did not respond to requests for comment. 'As stated previously, each time potential wrong doing within the City of Cape Town came to my attention, I reported the allegations to the relevant authorities for investigation as I am legally mandated and ethically bound to do. I am not privy to any details regarding the SAPS investigations into the allegations against Mr Booi. The public statement issued by the NPA makes it clear that the criminal charges against Mr Booi have only been provisionally withdrawn pending investigations into newly discovered evidence,' said Smith.
IOL News
6 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
I'm a victim of witch hunt, says ex-city housing boss
Former human settlements mayco member Malusi Booi. Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers FORMER human settlements mayco member Malusi Booi has implicated two senior City officials in what he described as a witch hunt leading to his arrest over tender collusion charges, which the National Prosecuting Authority subsequently withdrew on Friday. Booi was arrested last year, one year after his offices were raided and his electronic equipment seized. The charges against him related to alleged tender collusion linked to construction companies owned by alleged underworld figures such as Stanfield and his wife Nicole Johnson. In an exclusive interview with the Cape Times yesterday, Booi spoke of what he believed led to his arrest, his time as the mayoral committee member and his future in politics. 'I do think it was (a political witch hunt), it has been confirmed on a number of platforms because in the first place there was no R1 billion tender fraud. Even if something happened at the supply chain, I don't have any control on who gets to be appointed or not being appointed. I've got no role in appointing contractors. I was viewed as someone who awarded a contract to a contractor, the people who did that knew very well that it does not exist because that is purely administrative, it is done by City officials. It is not done by politicians, our role is purely oversight. We meet contractors that had already been appointed on site. "The company in question was never appointed by the City, they were appointed by the provincial government in 2014. I was not even working for the City at the time, so there was no way I could have championed the appointment. I joined in 2016, appointed as sub council chairperson for subcouncil 21. I only joined human settlements in December 2018. It was four years later that the company was appointed. I was taken aback when I was accused of facilitating this appointment," he said. Upon his own investigations, Booi said he learned that the tenders in question were even cancelled before they were awarded. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'There was a narrative created that the City lost a billion when they knew the City never lost a cent. There was no money taken but the impression created was that Malusi ran away with a R1billion, I mean, it's not possible. No money lost by the City. During my tenure we achieved 99.3% of delivery. So I was shocked to understand that all of a sudden there are these issues.' He said he knew who was behind the orchestrated move against him. He said one of the officials had made statements saying he was the one who gave police information about Booi, while another made remarks in a CCMA case that 'he wanted to deal with me harshly'. Asked why he would be the target of these attacks, Booi said he was not in favour and did not support the re-appointment of one of the officials. 'A lot of things were not going right under his watch, a lot of service delivery issues.' Booi said the entire saga had been draining both psychologically and physically. 'It took a (huge) toll on my family but I am relieved now all these charges have been dropped so that one can continue with life. From day one, when they came to the office, it has always been a very difficult moment but I've tried to remain calm under the situation. I lost my job that I enjoyed doing the most. It's been very stressful.' Booi said he would not be considering returning to the City given the opportunity to do so. He plans to settle in the Eastern Cape where he wants to focus on a family-run farming business.
IOL News
26-05-2025
- IOL News
Ralph Stanfield R1 billion housing tender fraud: Police vow investigation is still ative
Alleged leader of the 28s gang, Ralph Stanfield. Image: Willem Law/File Police in the Western Cape said their investigation into alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield and others remains on course. This, despite the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) provisionally withdrawing commercial charges against the group on Friday, May 23. The charges related to a R1 billion housing tender fraud case. The group who saw the charges withdrawn included Stanfield, his wife, Nicole Johnson, former City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for human settlements Malusi Booi, and seven others. The scandal escalated during Booi's term in office, as accusations emerged that he, along with the Stanfields, had manipulated housing tenders to benefit companies under their influence. The allegations suggested a web of corruption aimed at misappropriating public funds intended for housing development. Malusi Booi appears in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers The Western Cape police spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, said this is not uncommon in complex investigations for the direction of the investigation to change in recognition of new and additional information that emerges as part of the investigation. 'It is not uncommon in complex investigations for the direction of the investigation to change in recognition of new and additional information that emerges as part of the investigation. Even in this case, when the commercial crimes investigators became privy to new information, that had to be incorporated into the investigation. Suffice it to indicate that it is envisaged that the commercial charges provisionally withdrawn will be reinstated in due course,' Potelwa said. Police have assured that the charges being provisionally withdrawn in no way indicate a failure on the part of investigators. 'Rather, a change in direction, taking into account the legal framework within which, as a law enforcement agency, the SAPS is compelled to operate,' Potelwa said. Western Cape for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, explained why the charges were provisionally withdrawn. '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,' he said. [email protected] IOL Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Eyewitness News
24-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
Provisional withdrawal of fraud charges against Stanfield, others not sign of investigators' failure: WC police
Ntuthuzelo Nene 24 May 2025 | 9:06 Malusi Booi Ralph Stanfield South African Police Service (SAPS) FILE: Malusi Booi (left) and his co-accused appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates Court on 31 January 2025. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/EWN CAPE TOWN - Western Cape police said the provisional withdrawal of commercial crime charges against 28's gang boss Ralph Stanfield, and others, is by no means an indication of failure on the part of investigators. Stanfield, his wife, Nicole Johnson, City of Cape Town ousted Human Settlements MMC Malusi Booi, and more than 20 others were linked to a R1 billion tender fraud within the city's Human Settlements directorate. However, the State had decided to withdraw the fraud charges against Stanfield, Johnson, Booi, and nine others, citing new evidence that has come to light. The notorious couple and 12 others will remain behind bars to answer to a slew of gang-related charges, including murder. The prosecution told the Cape Town Magistrates Court that the provisional withdrawal of the charges doesn't mean those implicated are off the hook. Western Cape police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said it's common in complex cases like this to change the direction of an investigation due to the discovery of new information. "It is envisaged that the withdrawn charges will be reinstated in due course. As the South African Police Service in the Western Cape, we are confident that the investigation into the 14 accused is still on course." The case against Stanfield and 13 others has been postponed until July 14 for the State to provide further particulars to the defence before the case is transferred to the high court for a pretrial conference in November."
The Herald
24-05-2025
- The Herald
Charges provisionally withdrawn against '28s gang boss' and ex housing MMC in R1bn housing tender case
The prosecution provisionally withdrew fraud charges on Friday against alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield and former human settlements MMC Malusi Booi linked to R1bn worth of tenders related to housing in Cape Town. Stanfield was charged with his wife Nicole Johnson, Booi, and several others. The group was arrested in September and Booi was granted R250,000 bail. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said provincial director of public prosecutions advocate Nicollette Bell provisionally withdrew the charges 'pending the finalisation of an investigation on newfound evidence against them'. 'Advocate Bell also provisionally withdrew the charges against Suraya Manuel, Muhammed Amod, Randal Mullins, Brenda Mullins, Thuli Imgib, Nomvuyo Mnyaka, Lorna Ndoda, Siphokazi September, Kyle Stanfield, Barbara Johnson and Pakamisa Nondabula,' he 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.' Ntabazalila said Stanfield, Johnson, Johannes Abrahams, Denver Booysen, Jose Brandt, Jonathan Cloete, Shakeel Pelston, Imtiyaas Sedick, Warren Lee Dennis, Michael Morris, Chevonne McNabb, Sharazaadt Essop, Brandon Cornelius and Keithan Gardiner would be indicted in the high court in Cape Town for alleged gang-related offences including allegedly contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. Ntabazalila said this related to the murders of city official Wendy Kloppers, Rashied Staggie, William Stevens, Faizel Adams and Ismail Abrahams. Kloppers was shot at a housing development site in February 2023. Staggie was an infamous gang boss. He was killed outside his Salt River home, in Cape Town, in 2019 shortly after his release from prison. His twin brother, Rashaad, with whom he founded the notorious Hard Livings gang, was killed on the same street more than 20 years ago. 'The court postponed the case against the remaining accused until July 14 to ensure the state has provided all further particulars to the defence before the case is transferred to the high court for a pretrial conference on November 7,' said Ntabazalila. TimesLIVE
