Key Takeaways
- The Madlanga Commission heard evidence that taxi boss Oupa Jossiah “Bafana” Sindane is allegedly at the centre of an extortion racket involving Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni and mining contractor Tengane Mining.
- Sindane failed to appear before the commission on 28 September after his urgent application for a postponement was dismissed with a punitive costs order.
- WhatsApp messages recovered from Sindane’s phone show demands for cash payments, monthly “protection fees,” and threats to halt operations if payments were missed.
- Cellphone records also link Sindane to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, revealing exchanges of intelligence reports about Matlala’s associates and alleged drug‑distribution network.
- An internal Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) affidavit concerning the alleged fitting of blue lights to vehicles tied to Cat Security was forwarded to Sindane within two days of its creation, raising questions about unlawful information flow.
- The commission’s ongoing inquiry seeks to determine whether Sindane’s receipt of sensitive police data facilitated criminal activity or resulted from legitimate intelligence sharing.
Overview of the Madlanga Commission hearing on 28 September
On Monday, 28 September, the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry proceeded with the testimony of several witnesses despite the absence of taxi boss Oupa Jossiah Sindane. Sindane had launched a second urgent application to review and set aside the commission’s earlier ruling that denied his request for a postponement; the Gauteng High Court dismissed that application with a punitive costs order on the same morning. Evidence leader advocate Matthew Chaskalson, SC, informed the commission that Sindane’s evidence would be heard “in whatever format” the commission determined, but Sindane failed to appear, prompting the formal reading of incriminating evidence into the public record.
Background of the accused: Oupa Jossiah Sindane and Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni
Sindane and Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni are co‑accused in a multimillion‑rand extortion and money‑laundering case currently before the Kwaggafontein Magistrates’ Court in Mpumalanga. Both men are prominent figures in the provincial taxi industry; Sibanyoni has previously claimed to have contacted Police Minister Bheki Cele in 2022 about violent taxi‑industry unrest, while Sindane is described as an associate and close confidant of Sibanyoni. Their alleged criminal enterprise allegedly exploits their influence over transport routes and community forums to extract payments from legitimate businesses.
Profile of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and links to the Big Five cartel
Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering in the Gauteng High Court. He is also alleged to be a member of the notorious “Big Five” cartel, a grouping that previously included the late taxi boss Jothan Msibi, who Sibanyoni claims was behind an earlier attempt on his life in 2006. Matlala’s alleged involvement in drug distribution and his recent legal troubles have made him a focal point of intelligence interest, particularly regarding his associates in Atteridgeville and Pretoria West.
Details of the extortion racket against Tengane Mining
The core of the commission’s evidence stems from the statement of Dr Tengane Ntuli, director of Tengane Mining, which secured a mining right for a farm in Mkobola on 15 December 2022 to supply aggregate stone to King Civil, a subcontractor of Sanral on the Moloto Road. Ntuli recounted that after approaching King Civil, he was referred to its community liaison officer Makhaya Msiza, who then directed him to Mvimbi Masilela, chairperson of the local business forum. Masilela allegedly introduced Ntuli to a man identified as “Mr Bafana Kabini,” later linked via cellphone evidence to Sindane.
Payment demands and protection fees
At their first meeting in July 2022, Sibanyoni allegedly demanded R100 000 in cash from Ntuli, which was paid. Subsequently, Sindane and Sibanyoni reportedly insisted that Ntuli surrender 40 % of his contract income. When Ntuli objected, he was instructed to pay R100 000 per month to a transport company tied to Sibanyoni—a sum Ntuli characterised as a “protection fee.” Commission records indicate that approximately R2.29 million was deposited into the designated account over the relevant period.
WhatsApp evidence supporting the allegations
Recovered WhatsApp chats from Sindane’s phone corroborate Ntuli’s account. In one exchange, Ntuli explained his difficulty maintaining the monthly R100 000 payments, citing poor performance by King Civil and reduced income. Sindane’s responses, signed “Landlord Growth Point,” complained about missed payments and allegedly threatened to cease operations if the funds were not forthcoming. The messages originated from a number associated with Sindane, reinforcing the claim that he was directly involved in the extortion scheme.
Escalation after contractor change
When Edwin Construction assumed control of the Moloto Road contract, Ntuli asserted that Sibanyoni and Sindane increased their monthly demand to R120 000. In a separate affidavit, Ntuli stated that on 14 November 2025, Masilela, Sibanyoni, and Sindane visited Edwin Construction and allegedly threatened to halt operations unless Tengane Mining satisfied the payment demands. Masilela reportedly warned Ntuli that all trucks would be stopped from operating on 17 November if the money was not paid.
Security guard allegations and intimidation tactics
Early in his dealings with King Civil, Ntuli claimed that Sibanyoni imposed a private security company on the operation after his own security guards were removed. Ntuli alleged that one of the guards was tied up and that the weighbridge cable was cut, actions intended to intimidate and disrupt the mining activity. These tactics, combined with the financial demands, formed part of a broader pattern of coercion aimed at forcing compliance from Tengane Mining.
Cellphone evidence linking Sindane to Matlala’s network
Beyond the extortion material, Sindane’s cellphone contained chats concerning Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and individuals allegedly tied to his drug‑distribution network. The exchanges included requests for identity numbers, intelligence reports, and names of Matlala’s associates in Atteridgeville and Pretoria West. Chaskalson suggested two possible motives: either Sindane’s associates were seeking information amid personal hostility toward Matlala, or parties interested in Matlala’s alleged drug network wanted to identify key players while he faced criminal charges and financial strain.
Possible motives for Sindane receiving intelligence on Matlala
Chaskalson argued that there appeared to be no innocent explanation for Sindane’s receipt of sensitive police data about Matlala. If Sindane were to testify, he could clarify whether the information was sought to counter a perceived threat from Matlala or to facilitate further criminal enterprises targeting Matlala’s operations. The commission noted that understanding Sindane’s motive is crucial to determining whether the flow of intelligence constituted unlawful collusion or a legitimate, albeit questionable, information‑sharing practice.
The Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department affidavit about blue lights
A particularly striking piece of evidence was an internal EMPD affidavit authored by Chris Steyn, concerning an investigation into whether blue lights had been illegally fitted to vehicles linked to Cat Security. Steyn stated that three SAPS members had visited his office on 22 September 2025 to inquire about EMPD fleet management’s involvement; he confirmed that no such modifications had been made. The affidavit was signed on 25 September 2025 and, according to Chaskalson, was obtained and forwarded to Sindane by his close associate Timothy Moyane within two days. This rapid transmission raised serious questions about how an internal law‑enforcement document reached a private citizen so swiftly.
Implications and unanswered questions
The commission is left to grapple with the broader implications of these findings: whether Sindane’s receipt of the EMPD affidavit facilitated illegal activity, such as the purported use of blue lights to intimidate or impersonate authorities, and how such information flows might be curtailed. The persistence of extortion threats, the manipulation of security arrangements, and the apparent convergence of taxi‑industry power, mining contracts, and police intelligence point to a complex web of corruption that the Madlanga Commission continues to untangle. The outcome of Sindane’s eventual testimony—should he be compelled to appear—will be pivotal in clarifying his role and in shaping any recommended reforms to prevent similar abuses of power.