CT mayor calls for PRASA to investigate alleged gang links involving security contracts

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has called on Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to fully investigate alleged gang links to security contracts on the Cape Town Central Line.

The railway line was brought to its knees by illegal occupation of railway tracks and infrastructure vandalism since 2019 and was only recovered last year.

A new investigation by AmaBhungane has revealed how alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield may have had some influence over security contracts linked to the rebuilding of the railway line.

According to the investigation, Stanfield and his wife Nicole Johnson appear to have used PRASA head of security Alexio Papadopulo to capture a share of the rail agency's multi-billion-rand reconstruction project.

The report further alleges that violent disruption of the project created pressure for security solutions, which benefited companies linked to the couple.

These companies allegedly worked as subcontractors and received about R600 million in contracts between 2022 and 2024.

ALSO READ: Gang boss linked to Prasa contracts on Cape Town Central Line

Hill-Lewis is calling on PRASA to suspend the implicated officials pending a full investigation and to ensure the companies are blacklisted..

"We know that this can be done because the city successfully ensured the national blacklisting of over a dozen gang-linked companies following our own investigations. It's important for the state to shut down all potential avenues of funding to gangsterism."

The mayor said the alleged involvement of a senior police official is also concerning.

"Even more concerning is the involvement of a senior SAPS official in exerting pressure to contract with these gang-linked companies and I am writing to the provincial commissioner to ensure that this is looked into and that senior officer's conduct is fully explained and investigated."