Prominent Mpumalanga taxi industry leader Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni appeared in the Kwaggafontein Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday alongside two co-accused. The group faces charges of extortion and money laundering linked to alleged demands for protection fees from a mining businessman between 2022 and 2025.
Sibanyoni and his co-accused Mvimbi Masilela and Philemon Msiza were arrested in Pretoria by the Special Task Force on Tuesday. They are accused of unlawfully demanding more than R2 million in protection fees and moving the funds through multiple bank accounts to launder them.
The state opposed bail and requested a seven-day postponement to gather more evidence. Sibanyoni’s lawyer, former NPA boss Shaun Abrahams, criticised the prosecution for failing to respond to calls before the hearing.
Sibanyoni, who entered the taxi industry in 1985 and now operates around 400 taxis, told reporters he was innocent. He said he would use time in jail to preach to other prisoners. The case returns to court on Friday before a new presiding officer.
