Explosive WhatsApp messages placed before the Madlanga Commission have laid bare allegations that two well-known taxi bosses used threats, intimidation, and the promise of violent disruption to squeeze money out of businessmen operating in Mpumalanga.
At the centre of the storm are Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni and Bafana "King of the Sky" Sindane, who stand accused of running what has been described as an extortion racket. The allegations were made by businessman Dr Tengane Thomas Ntuli, who opened a R2 million extortion case against the pair.
"The land was theirs"
According to Ntuli's affidavit, the two men told him that the land was theirs and that he would have to pay a "protection fee" to ensure his operations continued without any interference. This came after he had scored a South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) tender to upgrade the Moloto road, passing Kwaggafontein.
The alleged arrangement was said to have started in July 2021, with Ntuli claiming he was expected to pay R100 000 a month all the way until 2025. Yesterday, the commission heard exactly how these alleged demands were communicated and enforced.
The messages that told the story
Leading the evidence, Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC read out a WhatsApp message allegedly sent by Sindane to Ntuli after a payment was missed in July 2024.
"Good day bab' Ntuli, I'm sad and disappointed to have to write another message to you to chase for payment," Sindane allegedly wrote.
In the message, he referred to what he described as an earlier agreement involving a 60/40 split with Sibanyoni, and complained that the amount being paid had since been reduced.
"You used to pay us R100 000, but I'm now left confused as to why you've reduced the payment yet again," the message allegedly stated.
Sindane then questioned why Ntuli's operation was still going ahead while the payments were allegedly not being made in full. The message ended with a blunt demand for an explanation within 48 hours.
"I demand a response, within 48 hours, detailing why the operation should not be stopped so that you can come and account for what's going on," Sindane allegedly wrote.
The pressure kept coming
Ntuli did not stop there. He further alleged that in November 2025, another taxi boss, Philemon Msiza, told him that his mining company's operations would be stopped if another payment was not made.
In his affidavit, Ntuli said the alleged payments were doing real damage to his business, because a large portion of its profits was going straight to the group.
Chaskalson told the commission that the affidavits and the WhatsApp exchanges pointed to what he characterised as an alleged "extortion racket" backed up by threats of violence.
"What we see in the affidavits of Ntuli and the chats is essentially an extortion racket enforced with threats of violence," Chaskalson said.
Arrests and denials
The allegations have already landed the accused in serious trouble. Sibanyoni, Sindane, Msiza and Mvimbi Masilela were arrested in May and charged with extortion and money laundering following Ntuli's complaint. All four have denied the allegations and are currently out on bail.
Sindane's attempt to keep his story out of the public eye also hit a wall. Earlier yesterday, the High Court in Pretoria struck his urgent application, which sought to stop the commission from hearing his testimony, off the roll. This means he now has no choice but to testify before the commission.
Fired crime boss faces criminal charges
In a separate but equally dramatic turn, the commission is now set to lay criminal charges against fired Crime Intelligence Major-General Feroz Khan after he failed to appear before the inquiry yesterday, despite being given the option to testify virtually.
"The commission's secretary will be approached to lay criminal charges against Khan," Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga said.
Madlanga dismissed Khan's application for a postponement, finding that the former police general had, on the advice of his attorneys, disregarded a subpoena that had been legitimately issued by the commission.
"You have disregarded the subpoena," Madlanga told Khan's legal team.
The finding came after Khan once again failed to appear before the commission, even though an independent medical assessment had cleared the way for him to give evidence remotely.
Khan's lawyer, Mohammed Valey, rejected the suggestion that his client had deliberately ignored the subpoena.