Taxi Boss Joe Sibanyoni Resumes and Concludes Testimony at Madlanga Commission After Statement Corrections
Mpumalanga taxi magnate Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni returned to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on Monday, 21 September 2026, to continue his testimony following a brief adjournment that allowed him and his legal team to amend his supplementary statement. The commission’s Chairperson, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, sought explicit confirmation from Sibanyoni that the corrections were accurate before proceedings resumed.
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Later in the day, Sibanyoni concluded his testimony and indicated he would return for cross-examination at a later, yet-to-be-determined date. The supplementary evidence he presented addressed allegations and materials put to him by the commission, including WhatsApp communications involving suspended police officer Fannie Nkosi. Sibanyoni defended his relationship with Nkosi as purely social and denied any improper dealings.
Sibanyoni also rejected claims that he was part of the so-called “Big Five” criminal syndicate, a group alleged by suspended Sergeant Nkosi and others to manipulate police investigations, control taxi routes through violence, and extort money. Instead, Sibanyoni portrayed himself as a target of this network rather than a participant. He denied taking over any alleged cartel operations linked to the late taxi boss Jotham Msibi, who Sibanyoni accused of orchestrating assassination attempts against him.
His initial testimony began on 28 August 2026 but was left incomplete, with cross-examination scheduled for 21 September. During that first appearance, Sibanyoni spoke of surviving two assassination attempts—in 2006 and again in August 2022—and framed the second attack as the reason for his involvement in the inquiry. He claimed Msibi, who died in January 2024, was behind the threats and that Msibi’s death brought relief from the danger he faced. Sibanyoni also recounted how he had sought an inquiry from then Police Minister Bheki Cele into a cartel with alleged police involvement, but his request was refused.
The inquiry is examining serious allegations involving the taxi industry, including violence and corruption. Sibanyoni is a prominent figure in the sector, serving as president of the South African Local and Long Distance Taxi and Bus Organisation and operating a large fleet across Gauteng and Mpumalanga. His testimony is linked to a separate criminal case where several accused face charges related to the 2022 shooting at Centurion Golf and Country Club, in which Sibanyoni was wounded. The accused have pleaded not guilty.
The commission’s schedule remains under pressure, with public evidence expected to close by early October 2026 and the final report due to the President in January 2027. It is important to note that all allegations and claims made during Sibanyoni’s testimony remain untested, and no findings of guilt or liability have been made by the commission or courts. The complex relationships and accusations involving Sibanyoni, Nkosi, Msibi, and others continue to be subject to scrutiny and legal processes.