A brazen attack on Putco's Moloto depot in Mpumalanga left 16 buses torched in less than 10 minutes on January 27, 2025. CCTV footage presented at the Madlanga commission revealed that several suspects ambushed security guards at night, threatening them at gunpoint and setting the buses alight. The footage showed one suspect carrying a can of flammable liquid, which was sprayed over the buses before they were set on fire.
The attack was part of a larger wave of violence, with 35 buses burnt at two other depots in the area on the same night. According to Adv Matthew Chaskalson, the chief evidence leader, the incidents may be linked to Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni, who is accused of extorting businesses operating in the KwaNdebele area. Chaskalson is probing Sibanyoni's dealings with Putco, the bus company.
Sibanyoni's alleged involvement in the attacks was further scrutinized after it emerged that he had been communicating with a business associate, Bafana Sindane, about buying buses just 36 hours after the attacks. The commission also heard that Putco had recorded over 350 incidents of taxi operators blocking bus drivers between October 2024 and January 2025, preventing them from operating.
Chaskalson sought to link the sequence of events to an earlier meeting between Sibanyoni, President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe. During the meeting, Sibanyoni reportedly raised concerns about red tape preventing him and his associates from entering the bus transport industry. Sibanyoni allegedly stated that he and his business associates were engaging with Putco about securing a 30% share for local operators.
The proposed 30% stake and the chronology of events raised questions about whether the attacks were intended to pressure Putco into selling the company. However, Sibanyoni rejected this interpretation, stating that he differed with the findings and that it was unfortunate if they were understood differently. He also tried to object to questions about Putco-related matters.
The Madlanga commission continues to investigate the matter, with Sowetan reporting that Taxichoice, whose executives include Sibanyoni and directors of several taxi organisations, approached Putco with an offer to buy the bus company a month after the attacks. The commission is examining the evidence and testimony to determine the extent of Sibanyoni's involvement in the alleged extortion and bus torching incidents.
The investigation has revealed a complex web of interests and motives, with Sibanyoni's business dealings and alleged extortion attempts being scrutinized. The commission's findings will likely have significant implications for the bus transport industry in Mpumalanga and the role of taxi operators in the region.
Key points
- Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni implicated in alleged extortion and bus torching incidents
- 16 Putco buses torched in 10 minutes at KwaNdebele depot on January 27, 2025
- Commission investigates alleged link between attacks and Sibanyoni's bid to secure 30% stake in Putco
