Joe Sibanyoni And Three Co-Accused To Appear In Court Over Alleged R2 Million Extortion

Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and his three co-accused are expected to appear before the Delmas Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning, facing charges of extortion and money laundering.

Sibanyoni, Oupa Bafana Sindane, Daniel Masilela and Philemon Msiza are accused of allegedly extorting more than R2 million from a businessman in Mpumalanga.

The alleged payments were reportedly demanded as protection fees in connection with a road construction project involving a businessman identified as Ntuli.

Sibanyoni recently addressed the payments during testimony before the Madlanga Commission, arguing that they were linked to local-content participation rather than unlawful demands.

Sibanyoni Defends Payments As Local-Content Shares

During the commission proceedings, Commissioner Advocate Sandile Khumalo questioned Sibanyoni's entitlement to a reported 40% share, given that he was not a shareholder in Tengane.

"What entitles you to that 40 if you are not a shareholder of Tengane?" Khumalo asked.

Sibanyoni maintained that his involvement was necessary for the local construction work to proceed.

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"It's a local contract. There was no way Mr Ntuli could supply concrete or whatever was supplying if I was not involved," Sibanyoni responded.

His explanation placed the disputed payments within what he described as a local-content arrangement. However, the allegations against him and his co-accused concern extortion and money laundering.

Commission Questions Timing Of Contractor Appointment

Khumalo challenged Sibanyoni's explanation by pointing out that the main contractor had already been appointed.

"But he's already been appointed by the main," the commissioner said.

Sibanyoni disputed that account, insisting that the timing was different.

"He was not; he was not yet appointed. It was before," Sibanyoni said.

The exchange centred on whether the arrangements Sibanyoni described preceded the appointment of the contractor and what justified his claimed share of the project.

Criminal Allegations Remain Before The Courts

The four accused are alleged to have obtained more than R2 million from a Mpumalanga businessman through extortion linked to the construction project.

Sibanyoni's testimony before the Madlanga Commission provides his explanation for the payments, but the supplied material does not establish the outcome of the criminal proceedings or indicate whether the accused have entered pleas.

The four are expected to appear in the Delmas Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning. The allegations remain accusations and must be determined through the legal process.