Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni and his co-accused might return to court, after NPA said they will re-enroll their case.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is preparing to re-enroll the extortion and money laundering case against Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni following a meeting with a state prosecutor.
The case, involving Sibanyoni, businessman Bafana “King of Sky” Sindane and two co-accused, was struck off the court roll this week after state prosecutor Mkhuseli Ntaba failed to appear in court despite being ordered to attend.
Now, in a turnaround, the NPA said it is already working to revive the prosecution.
Interview with eNCA on Tuesday, NPA spokesperson Kaiser Kganyago said “We will re-enroll the matter and the NDPP has already talked to the team in Mpumalanga to facilitate all the processes”.
“They are outside on technicalities. They are not out on the merits of their case,” Kganyago said.
The four accused face allegations of extorting more than R2 million in so-called protection fees from a local mining entrepreneur, claims that have intensified scrutiny on alleged criminal networks operating within parts of the taxi industry.
Kganyago added that the matter would be submitted to the NPA head, Adv. Andy Mothibi.
IOL has learned that Ntaba met with the NPA in Mpumalanga following the courtroom fallout, while officials scramble to contain the damage caused.
Ntaba is now facing serious legal trouble after a warrant of arrest was issued against him when the court ruled that his absence amounted to contempt of court.
He had informed the magistrate on Friday that he would be unable to attend proceedings on Monday because of a prior commitment. Despite this, the court ordered him to appear.
When he failed to arrive, the magistrate slammed the delay as unreasonable and removed the matter from the roll, effectively allowing the accused men to walk free — at least for now.
But the NPA insisted the case is far from over.
Kganyago described the courtroom drama as unprecedented.
“This is the first time such an incident has happened to the NPA since its establishment in 1998,” Kganyago said.
NPA head of legal services Adv. Mthunzi Mhaga also questioned the magistrate’s decision to strike the matter off the roll.
“We have great difficulty with the order that was made,” Mhaga said.
“Hence, we are reflecting to determine whether it was the only permissible mechanism on how this matter could have been dealt with.”
The case has placed both the accused and the NPA itself under intense public scrutiny.
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