Taxi boss, three co-accused granted R70,000 bail

A Mpumalanga taxi boss and three co-accused have been granted bail in a high-profile extortion and money laundering case. Joe Sibanyoni, also known as Ferrari, along with Bafana Oupa Sindane, Phillmon Makhaya Msiza, and Mvimba Daniel Masilela, were each granted bail of R70,000 by the Delmas Magistrates Court. The matter has been postponed to September 1, 2026.

The four men face charges of extortion and two counts of money laundering. The state alleges they forced a businessman in the Nkangala district to pay more than R2.2 million in protection fees between 2022 and 2025. According to the prosecution, the complainant transferred money into accounts linked to the accused, after which the funds were allegedly moved through a series of banking channels in an attempt to disguise their origin.

The bail ruling follows significant legal turmoil. The case was initially struck off the roll at the Kwaggafontein Magistrates Court after state prosecutor Mkhuseli Ntaba failed to appear for a scheduled bail hearing. The presiding magistrate, Tuletu Tonjeni, found Ntaba in contempt of court and issued a warrant for his arrest. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has since applied for...