Taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni testified before the Madlanga commission on Monday, denying that he had ever commissioned contract killings. He claimed that phone evidence showing he had asked associates about “izinkabi” (contract killers) was being misinterpreted. Sibanyoni stated that in the taxi industry, the term “izinkabi” referred to taxi bosses’ protectors. He said he was seeking to establish whether his associate, Bafana Sindane, had any information about these persons.
Chats between Sibanyoni and Sindane, obtained by the commission, show Sibanyoni inquiring about “baobe” (izinkabi) on August 2025, referring to Sfundo Mhlongo and Khanyiseleni Mbatha. Sibanyoni objected to the use of evidence from his phone, raising concerns about how the commission accessed his phone records. He claimed that the commission had accessed his device while it was in the custody of the police in an extortion and money-laundering case against him in Kwaggafontein, Mpumalanga.
Sibanyoni was also questioned about his financial transactions with a security company, Gubis85, owned by Calvin Mahlangu. The company has been linked to a Tshwane metro security tender tainted by corruption allegations. Sibanyoni said he hired Gubis85 for security services after an attempted hit on him in August 2022, in which he was injured. He claimed to have paid the company R145,000 monthly for security services.
A year after the commercial contract started, Sibanyoni said Gubis85 gave him a bakkie, a Toyota Hilux, as a birthday gift. He denied that this arrangement represented criminal conduct, such as extortion or facilitation of corruption. Sibanyoni also disclosed that he and Mahlangu were part of a “Shosholoza Club” — a stokvel of eight people — and that Mahlangu’s contributions to the stokvel account were made as a member, not as a conduit from Gubis85.
The Madlanga commission is investigating links between people suspected in criminal conduct with the police. Sibanyoni was linked to about five police officers, including Fannie Nkosi and W/O Bhokgolo Mahlangu. Sibanyoni admitted to being socially connected to Nkosi but invoked his constitutional right not to self-incriminate, refusing to answer questions about their chats. He described Mahlangu as his “homeboy” and said he works at a police station in Kwaggafontein.
The commission focused on chats between Sibanyoni and Sindane, including a message sent on March 7 2025, saying, “The dog is dead.” Sibanyoni claimed that this message related to the shooting of a person named Mabonga from Money Talks, who was shot in a police shootout. He denied that the message reflected any action by him or direction he gave. Another message, sent on June 25 2025, reading, “We are in charge of the streets,” was also questioned.
Sibanyoni’s cross-examination has been postponed to a date yet to be announced by the commission. Key points from his testimony include:
Key points
- Sibanyoni denied involvement in contract killings despite phone evidence suggesting otherwise.
- He claimed that his financial transactions with Gubis85 were legitimate security services payments.
- Sibanyoni admitted to social connections with police officers but denied any improper relationships.
