{
  "id": 3990875,
  "title": "MADLANGA COMMISSION: ‘Cele shrugged off critical warning’ — Joe Ferrari talks taxi killings and a cartel",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/madlanga-commission-cele-shrugged-off-critical-warning-joe-ferrari",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T16:34:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-28-cele-shrugged-off-critical-warning-joe-ferrari-talks-taxi-killings-and-a-cartel/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni, a taxi boss under investigation for extortion, testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Friday, 28 August 2026. Sibanyoni stated that he had warned then-police minister Bheki Cele about a \"cartel\" causing havoc in the taxi industry three months before an assassination attempt on his life. Sibanyoni mentioned that senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officers were involved in the violence. Cele, who has admitted to knowing Vusimuzi \"Cat\" Matlala, a suspected crime kingpin accused of trying to have Sibanyoni murdered, asked what Sibanyoni expected him to do about it. Matlala is also charged with various crimes, including attempted murder, and is accused of being involved in the 2022 assassination attempt.",
  "summary": "Extortion-accused businessman Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni has told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that he put himself at risk when he gave the police minister at the time, Bheki Cele, critical information about taxi violence. Cele, meanwhile, knows suspected crime kingpin Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, accused of trying to have Sibanyoni murdered.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "MADLANGA COMMISSION: Former Hawks boss exposes factional rifts after chaotic ‘KT’ Molefe arrest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/madlanga-commission-former-hawks-boss-exposes-factional-rifts-after",
        "published": "2026-08-27T21:22:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "New witness to take stand at Madlanga Commission",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/new-witness-to-take-stand-at-madlanga-commission",
        "published": "2026-08-28T04:40:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "BREAKING | Joe 'Ferrari' Sibanyoni to testify at Madlanga Commission",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/breaking-joe-ferrari-sibanyoni-to-testify-at-madlanga-commission",
        "published": "2026-08-28T05:43:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni tells Madlanga commission alleged Big Five leader tried to kill him",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/joe-ferrari-sibanyoni-tells-madlanga-commission-alleged-big-five",
        "published": "2026-08-28T18:29:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}