Malusi Booi among 8 suspects appearing in court over CoCT human settlements directorate graft

CAPE TOWN - Eight suspects, including a former City of Cape Town senior official, are appearing at the Cape Town Magistrates court on Wednesday in connection with corruption in the metro's human settlements directorate. 

In March 2023, the Hawks raided the offices of former Cape Town Human Settlements MMC Malusi Booi, leading to his suspension and resignation as a Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor.

Electronic equipment and documents were confiscated during the raid.

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Booi is accused of accepting money from underworld figures for information about city tenders in the department he headed.

Booi denies any involvement with underworld figures, and believes he's a victim of a smear campaign by some in the DA.

At the time of his resignation as a DA councillor, he indicated that he would spend time at his farm in the Eastern Cape.

One of the eight arrested suspects was apprehended in the Eastern Cape on Monday, while others were nabbed in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

They're facing racketeering, money laundering, corruption as well as extortion fraud charges.