STANFIELD & CO SET FOR TRIAL

ALLEGED 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield and 14 others are heading to the High Court in November, facing klompie charges of gang-related crimes including the murder of Rashied Staggie.

The accused appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates Court on Monday, where it was confirmed that the matter will be transferred to the Western Cape High Court on 7 November 2025.

Among the accused are Stanfield’s wife Nicole Johnson, Johannes “Bal” Abrahams, Denver Booysen, Jose “Makop” Brandt, Jonathan Cloete, Shakeel Pelston, Imtyaas Sedick, Warren-Lee Dennis, Michael Morris, Chevonne McNabb, Sharazaadt Essop, Brandon Cornelius and Keathan Gardiner.

The group is facing 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.

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.

The most high-profile hit linked to the group is the murder of former alleged Hard Livings boss Rashied Staggie, who was gunned down outside his Salt River home in December 2019.

The state alleges: “[Cloete] was the leader of The Firm in Kraaifontein. Sometime prior to [Staggie’s] death, he visited [Stanfield.]

“Sometime in November 2019, Stanfield, Cloete and others conspired and planned to kill Staggie. To this end they procured the services of Pelston and Essop in order to assist them.

“On the morning of Friday 13 December 2019, Cloete, Pelston and Essop proceeded to Staggie’s homestead in order to kill him as planned.

 “Pelston and Essop armed themselves with firearms. Cloete drove his Ford bakkie past Staggie who was seated in a Toyota motor vehicle outside his home. While Staggie was seated inside the motor vehicle, Cloete and Essop approached Staggie and opened fire fatally injuring Staggie.”

Cloete and Morris are also accused of planning and carrying out the murder of former alleged 27s boss William “Red” Stevens on 2 February 2021.

According to the State: “Cloete and others decided and planned to kill the deceased. They procured the services of Morris, a person named Siya and others to assist.

“On the afternoon of Tuesday, 2 February 2021, Cloete, Morris and others proceeded to Stevens’ area in order to kill him as planned. Morris and Siya armed themselves with firearms and drove to Rembrandt Street.

“Stevens was seated in the street. Siya opened fire on Stevens from the motor vehicle. The driver stopped the motor vehicle and Morris and Siya alighted and opened fire on Stevens. Stevens died as a result of gunshot wounds.”

In another hit, Dennis, Morris, and Essop are facing charges for the murder of former City of Cape Town official Wendy Kloppers, who was gunned down on 16 February 2023.

While a major R1 billion tender fraud case was previously provisionally withdrawn, however the NPA says those charges may return.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said: “Investigation on the economic crimes were preferred against them but later provisionally withdrawn after new evidence came up, is still continuing.”