Ralph Stanfield, who is allegedly associated with the 28s gang, now faces charges of murder in connection with the death of Rashied Staggie, the former leader of the Hard Livings gang. This significant development was revealed by the state prosecutor during Stanfield’s recent appearance at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.
Stanfield, alongside his wife, Nicole Johnson, made their court appearance on Friday. The pair, who attended the hearing virtually via a Teams meeting, were notified of the additional charges related to the ongoing investigation into the murder of a City employee, Wendy Kloppers. Both Stanfield and his wife are part of an expanding list of co-accused in this case.
While detained in Brandvlei Prison, Stanfield watched as Advocate Frank van Heerden, representing the state, formally added two more charges to his record. These included charges of conspiracy to murder and the actual murder charge.
The murder of Rashied Staggie occurred on 13 December 2019, outside his home in Salt River. Witnesses reported a brutal attack that unfolded in broad daylight.
“They just parked the car, and he was in the passenger’s seat. The people who shot him had parked their car further up the road,”
an anonymous eyewitness said.
“The gunman ran down the street, and I believe they were following him. They went out and shot him. There were about eight to ten gunshots. A male, coloured, ran up the road, and then they sped off.”
At the scene of the crime, investigators found a significant amount of evidence pointing to the violent nature of the attack. Images captured from the site revealed 12 bullet holes in the windscreen of the vehicle Staggie was in, as well as visible bloodstains on the car seats.
According to reports from the Daily Voice, by the time authorities arrived at the crime scene on London Road, Staggie had already been removed from his silver Toyota Corolla. His family had rushed him to Groote Schuur Hospital in an attempt to save his life, but the damage from the shooting was severe.
The murder of Rashied Staggie, a figure known for his role within the Hard Livings gang, sent shockwaves through the community at the time. Now, with the addition of Stanfield’s name to the charge sheet, the case takes a dramatic turn, raising questions about the broader gang-related violence in Cape Town.
Authorities are expected to continue their investigation, with further developments in the case likely to emerge as more evidence comes to light. The legal proceedings are ongoing, with more details anticipated in the coming months as the prosecution continues to build its case against Stanfield and his co-accused.
