Businessman Joe 'Ferari" Sibanyoni with three his coaccused granted R70 000 bail at Delmas magistrates court. Picture: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni and his co-accused have been granted R70,000 bail each in the Delmas Magistrate's Court in Mpumalanga.
Their matter will return to court on September 1.
Sibanyoni and his co-accused - Bafana Sindane, Mvimbi Masilela, and Philemon Msiza - are accused of extorting more than R2.2 million from a mining businessman between 2022 and 2025.
The court ruled that the four may not interfere with witnesses or attempt any form of intimidation while out on bail.
The dramatic ruling follows weeks of legal turmoil after an earlier hearing collapsed when a state prosecutor failed to appear, forcing the matter off the court roll and drawing fierce criticism from political leaders and the justice system.
NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago insisted the state remains confident in the case.
“Bail is not a punishment,” he said, warning that any breach of conditions would trigger swift legal action.
IOL News