Western Cape police bought thousands of litres of diesel from a service station linked to alleged organised crime figure Ralph Stanfield and his wife, Nicole Johnson, while the couple were under criminal investigation.

AmaBhungane reports that the John Ramsay Service Station supplied diesel for generators at Nyanga and Lentegeur police stations and the Bishop Lavis Police Training Academy during loadshedding in 2022 and 2023. Police bought nearly 3,000 litres from the business.

Police diesel purchases under scrutiny

Financial records cited by amaBhungane show Nyanga police station bought diesel from the service station five times between September and October 2022, paying R38,131.64.

The Bishop Lavis Academy made 12 deliveries between November 2022 and March 2023, costing SAPS R130,587.10.

One academy order recorded a payment of R122,364 for 990 litres of diesel, working out to about R123 per litre. AmaBhungane cited industry data showing the coastal diesel price was R24.83 per litre at the time.

Tax compliance questions raised

National Treasury told amaBhungane that companies may register on the Central Supplier Database regardless of their tax status, but must be tax compliant when a government contract is awarded.

Treasury said government bodies may not award contracts to suppliers that are not tax compliant and remain responsible for checking compliance before an award is made.

AmaBhungane reports that SARS records indicated Johnson and the service station were not tax compliant during the relevant period.

The publication says an audit later assessed the service station as owing R54.4 million in company income tax, while Johnson was assessed for R31.6 million. The business challenged the assessment, but the objection and condonation request were rejected.

SAPS launches inquiry

Western Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa confirmed the transactions and said they followed a procurement process involving other suppliers listed on the Central Supplier Database.

She said SAPS has since opened an inquiry to establish the facts and determine whether the matter warrants a criminal investigation.

National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said the Bishop Lavis academy followed prescribed procurement processes and had no information at the time suggesting the supplier’s owners were allegedly involved in criminal activity.

Stanfield, Johnson and 12 alleged associates are due to go on trial in the Western Cape High Court on 19 October on charges including murder, attempted murder, fraud and money laundering.