Madlanga Commission: Taxi boss Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni blames associate for R2m Moloto road extortion

The Madlanga Commission is investigating a R500-million contract and the influence exerted by Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni and taxi boss Oupa "Bafana" Sindane over businessmen and contractors. Dr Tengane Thomas Ntuli, a businessman, testified that Sibanyoni demanded R100,000 in cash during their first meeting in July 2021, which he claims was the beginning of their business relationship.

Sibanyoni, however, has struggled to explain the payment and maintains that it was linked to legitimate business arrangements. Sindane, Sibanyoni, and two others face charges of extortion and money laundering in the Kwaggafontein Magistrates' Court in Mpumalanga. The allegations relate to Ntuli's Tengane Mining, which obtained a mining right in December 2022 to supply aggregate to King Civil, the main contractor on part of the Moloto Road.

Sibanyoni and his associates deny any wrongdoing and claim that the payments and their dealings with Ntuli were linked to ordinary commercial arrangements. The "new sheriff" message that Sibanyoni received has brought into focus the extent of his influence over contractors and the legitimacy of his dealings.