“I’m a Family Man, Not a Dealer”
By CCN News Desk
Mitchell’s Plain:- A prominent Cape Town businessman says he’s being falsely implicated in a high-profile R18 million cocaine bust.
Claiming he’s a respected family man, soccer coach, and corporate professional, not a criminal.
Raed Cupido, 40, who hails from Westridge in Mitchells Plain, appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates Court on Tuesday as he made another attempt to secure bail. This follows his unsuccessful bid to have the presiding magistrate recused from his case.
Cupido was arrested on 10 June after law enforcement officers raided a storage facility in Roeland Street. There, police allegedly uncovered 15 bricks of cocaine, an AK-47 assault rifle, five 9mm pistols, and a cache of ammunition.
However, Cupido insists he’s being framed. He told the court that he was pressured by a police officer with ties to the infamous alleged 28s gang leader Ralph Stanfield and his wife, Nicole Johnson. According to his legal team, Cupido was promised freedom if he falsely admitted the firearms and drugs belonged to the couple.
Since his arrest, Cupido has been suspended from his role as a senior marketing executive at Standard Bank. But court documents paint a picture of a successful, globe-trotting professional with a spotless criminal record.
His impressive CV includes stints at global companies such as British American Tobacco, Woolworths, and Philip Morris, where he held senior strategic roles and often travelled internationally. In addition, he owns RADC Transport, a fleet services company boasting 17 vehicles and a monthly income of R160,000. His property portfolio includes homes in Rondebosch, Claremont, and Green Point, valued at over R20 million.
Cupido says he is married to a conveyancing attorney and is the father of two young children. Their planned family trip to France was cancelled following his arrest.
“My roots are in Westridge,” Cupido said. “But I built my life through hard work, not crime. I’m a father, a businessman, and a community soccer coach. Pollsmoor’s overcrowded conditions are destroying my health. I’m not a flight risk, I just want the chance to prove my innocence.”
Meanwhile, Christopher Carelse, a co-accused in the matter and a manager at Shell Downstream SA, also maintains his innocence. He was arrested on 13 July, a month after the initial bust.
“I deny any knowledge or involvement in this case,” Carelse stated in an affidavit. “I was not present at the scene and do not know how I became a suspect.”
The court has yet to make a final decision on Cupido’s bail application.
