Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni and his three co-accused have been granted R70 000 bail each by the Delmas Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, after the state chose not to oppose their release.
Sibanyoni appeared in court alongside Bafana Oupa Sindane, Phillmon Makhaya Msiza and Mvimba Daniel Masilela, facing charges of extortion and two counts of money laundering.
The state alleges that between 2022 and 2025, the four men forced a businessman operating in the Nkangala district to hand over more than R2.2 million in so-called “protection fees.”
Three of the accused were arrested by law enforcement on 12 May 2026, while Sindane, who allegedly attempted to evade arrest, later handed himself over to police on the Friday of that same week.
The case had earlier descended into chaos at the Kwaggafontein Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga when state prosecutor Mkhuseli Ntaba failed to appear, leading the matter to be struck from the court roll. The no-show drew sharp criticism from Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who joined the public outcry over the fiasco.
Magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni ordered Ntaba’s arrest for contempt of court and has since been referred to the Magistrates Commission. Ntaba was later suspended.
The National Prosecuting Authority lodged a formal complaint over the conduct displayed during the proceedings, saying it “raises serious institutional concerns relating to judicial decorum, procedural fairness and the proper administration of justice.”
Ntaba claimed there had been threats on his life, but the NPA said he was safe and that it remained committed to pursuing the case against all four accused.
The matter was re-enrolled on Wednesday, triggering a frantic bid to block the re-enrolment that continued right up until the court appearance on Thursday. The case has now been postponed to 1 September 2026.
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