Evidence presented to the Madlanga commission has revealed that taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and close ally Oupa Sindane were allegedly involved in an extortion scheme. According to the evidence, they received over R2m in protection fees from Tengane Thomas Ntuli, a contractor involved in the R3.7bn Moloto Road upgrade project in Mpumalanga. The commission accessed phone records showing communications between Sindane and Ntuli.
The phenomenon of protection-fee syndicates has been growing in South Africa, with business organisations frequently appealing to police to intervene and protect entrepreneurs from groups demanding a share of project profits. Ntuli claims that during his first meeting with Sibanyoni, he was told to pay R100,000 to establish a line of communication. Sibanyoni allegedly described himself as part of a cartel running a protection fee syndicate.
Ntuli's affidavit states that from July 2021 until November 2025, he paid Sibanyoni and Sindane a total of R2.29m. Most payments were made in sums of R100,000 to the company MJ & Sons Transport. WhatsApp messages show Sindane threatening to stop Ntuli's operations if he did not pay the demanded amount. The messages were often disguised, with one message signed as "The Landlord, GrowthPoint".
The evidence suggests that Sibanyoni, president of the South African Local and Long Distance Taxi and Bus Organisation, negotiated the protection fee as the new leader of the area. Ntuli previously reported to Sibanyoni's predecessor, Jotham "Mswazi" Msibi, who was allegedly a leader of the Big Five cartel involved in contract killings, hijackings, and cash-in-transit heists.
Chief evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson stated that the payments extracted from Ntuli were made under threat of violence. He also mentioned that Ntuli's security was compromised, and a security company owned by Sibanyoni's nephew was imposed on him. WhatsApp chats also implicate Sindane and Sibanyoni in paying legal fees for convicted hitmen involved in taxi-industry murders.
The WhatsApp chats show that advocate Hartley Ngoato sent a message to Sibanyoni complaining about non-payment for defending a man referred to as "Gwabo", who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2025 for a taxi violence-related killing. Ngoato also represented Tshegofatso Richmond "Morwa" Makofane, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2023 for violent taxi shootings and murder.
The commission asked Sibanyoni whether he supported or employed contracted killers, but he denied it. He will be asked about arrangements for paying legal fees during his cross-examination. The chats also reveal that Sibanyoni received information about a police crime-intelligence operation involving alleged criminals known as "Kwagga 20", during which Surprise Ngodela was killed.
Key points
- Taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and Oupa Sindane allegedly received R2m in protection fees from a contractor involved in the R3.7bn Moloto Road upgrade project.
- The evidence presented to the Madlanga commission suggests that Sibanyoni and Sindane were involved in an extortion scheme, with WhatsApp messages showing threats and payments.
- The phenomenon of protection-fee syndicates has been growing in South Africa, with business organisations frequently appealing to police to intervene and protect entrepreneurs.
