WATCH | Sibanyoni reveals R900k business payment to man accusing him of extortion
The messages, recovered from the phone of Sibanyoni’s associate, Bafana “King of the Sky” Sindane, have emerged as a key part of the commission’s examination of alleged criminal syndicate links in the mining sector.
Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni, a prominent taxi boss in Mpumalanga, testified before the Madlanga Commission that he made a business payment of R900,000 to Dr Tengane Thomas Ntuli, the man who accused him of extortion. Sibanyoni explained that the payment was a contribution towards a partnership involving the planned upgrade of Moloto Road in Kwaggafontein.
The messages retrieved from Sibanyoni's associate, Bafana "King of the Sky" Sindane's phone have become crucial in the commission's investigation into potential criminal syndicate connections in the mining industry. Sibanyoni previously denied any involvement in Jothan Msibi's alleged Gauteng cartel, referring to it as "the farm."
Msibi, a well-known figure in the taxi industry, passed away in 2024. During his testimony, Sibanyoni emphasized that his leadership of the taxi industry should not be conflated with control over the alleged criminal network. He stated, "I have succeeded as the leader of the taxi industry, which must be distinguished from leading the farm and wielding the power that flows from it."
The South African Parliament's inquiry into alleged payments from contractors to Sibanyoni, mediated by commission leader Matthew Chaskalson, has further raised concerns about the alleged extortion payments made by contractors who had previously paid protection money to Msibi. Sibanyoni continues to dispute the admissibility of the WhatsApp messages as evidence in the commission's proceedings.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
