Crime
‘Gang Boss’ Allegedly Bagged R600m in Prasa Rail ContractsMayor Demands Suspensions
An investigative report has dropped a bombshell on Cape Town’s rail reconstruction project: companies linked to an accused gang boss allegedly secured R600 million in security contracts.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis is now demanding immediate action.
The Allegations
An investigation by amaBhungane alleges that accused gang boss Ralph Stanfield and his wife, Nicole Johnson, positioned companies linked to them as security subcontractors on Prasa’s multibillion-rand Cape Town Central Line presidential reconstruction project.
The main vehicle involvedMzansi Securifireallegedly received about R600 million in contracts related to the central line between 2022 and 2024.
According to the report, Stanfield-linked companies benefited from a security crisis that disrupted construction. Violent incidents and intimidation reportedly created pressure for security interventionswhich companies connected to Stanfield then moved to provide.
The Mayor’s Response
Hill-Lewis said the allegations required urgent action.
“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 blacklisting of those companies where applicable.”
“The state must shut down all potential avenues of funding to gangsterism and root out corrupt officials working with the underworld.”
The Police Question
The report also raises questions about the alleged involvement of a serving police official.
On 6 September 2022, the then acting station commissioner at Bishop Lavis police station allegedly emailed crime intelligence officers, Prasa executives, and a contractor, convening a meeting at Manenberg police station to discuss security on the project.
At that meeting, the contractor was reportedly introduced to representatives from two Stanfield-linked security SMMEsGParm Protection Services and PPE Security and Projectsas well as Yibaninati (Pty) Ltd , a company founded by Johnson.
The implication: these entities would address the security problems.
Hill-Lewis said the allegation warrants a full inquiry.
“The implications of gang infiltration into SAPS are simply too serious to ignore.”
He added that the SAPS provincial commissioner should investigate the Manenberg meeting.
The Resistance
AmaBhungane reports that the main contractors did not immediately accept the proposed arrangement and resisted pressure from Prasa’s security chief, who allegedly continued promoting the Stanfield-linked companies.
On 20 September 2022, Prasa’s Western Cape lead programme manager wrote to contractors confirming he had raised their concerns with Prasa CEO Hisham Emeran.
According to the report, Emeran asked contractors to formally document their “reservations around the onboarding of the identified SMMEs and the facilitators.”
Hill-Lewis said Emeran should explain these commentsand whether he knew of the gang links.
The Bottom Line
R600 million. Gang-linked companies. A police station meeting. Prasa officials. And a mayor demanding answers.
The Central Line was supposed to be rebuilt. Instead, it may have become a pipelinefor contracts, for cash, and for the underworld.
{Source: IOL}
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