Madlanga Commission hears how taxi boss Sindane got secret police info
The Madlanga Commission in Pretoria has been hearing about how Oupa “Bafana” Sindane, a well-known taxi boss, had access to secret police information. This included internal police reports about shootings and the murder of a police officer.
At the hearing on 28 September 2026, Advocate Matthew Chaskalson, leading the evidence, said Sindane had documents that were not meant for the public. Among these was a detailed report on the killing of Sergeant Marcus Lekalakala. The report named senior police officers involved and described the unit handling the investigation.
Chaskalson suggested that someone inside the South African Police Service might have passed this sensitive information to Sindane. There was also mention of a letter that appeared to be from the National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, but it’s not yet confirmed if that letter is genuine.
Another report linked to Sindane concerned a shooting at the Solo restaurant in Sandton. It was said he shared this information with another individual.
The commission also heard about WhatsApp messages exchanged between Sindane and another taxi boss, Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni. These chats are important because they mention people described as “izinkabi,” a word that can mean hitmen or contract killers. These messages are part of the ongoing inquiry into taxi-related violence and possible crime networks. However, these claims have not been proven and are still under investigation.
Sindane tried to stop the commission from hearing his testimony and from using the messages from his phone, but the Gauteng High Court rejected his urgent request on 28 September. The commission went ahead and included the evidence linked to him.
Earlier, the commission had denied Sindane’s request to delay his testimony. They ordered that the evidence about him must be heard on 28 September, whether or not he appeared in person.
It’s important to note that Sindane denies any wrongdoing and is presumed innocent. The commission has not made any final judgments about his actions.