Sanral ‘unaware’ of Sibanyoni’s Moloto Road role

The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) says it is not aware of taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni’s involvement in the multimillion-rand upgrade of the R573 Moloto Road.

The road, notorious for its fatalities in accidents, links Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, stretching from East Lynne in Pretoria, to Marble Hall in Limpopo and passing through several villages in Mpumalanga.

The project came under scrutiny at the Madlanga commission this week, where allegations of extortion against Sibanyoni were aired.

Sibanyoni and his close ally, Bafana Sindane, are among four people accused of extortion in a criminal case before the Delmas magistrate’s court.

The allegations stem from businessman Tengane Ntuli’s claim that Sibanyoni and Sindane extorted more than R2m from him over three years. Ntuli owns a company that supplied aggregate to the road project. Sibanyoni admits receiving the money but denies the allegations of extortion, claiming he had entered into a “partnership” with Ntuli, who had to meet a 30% local content requirement to qualify for the contract in Mpumalanga from Sanral’s main contractor.

However, Sanral spokesperson Lwando Mahlasela told the Sunday Times on Friday: “Sanral is not aware of the direct involvement of Mr Sibanyoni on the Moloto Road upgrade project.”

Sibanyoni this week acknowledged that there was no documentary proof of his involvement in the project and that his agreement with Ntuli had been verbal.

Mahlasela said Sanral’s appointment of local contractors on its projects is generally guided by a minimum 30% “contract participation goal”.

“This means a minimum 30% of the total value of the project must be subcontracted to locals,” he said.

Sibanyoni also came under sustained questioning from chief evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson SC over his alleged involvement in efforts to put pressure on bus operator Putco to sell its business.

Chaskalson suggested that Sibanyoni may have been at the centre of efforts to interfere with Putco’s operations.

On Wednesday, the commission was shown a video of Sibanyoni engaging with President Cyril Ramaphosa and mineral and petroleum resources minister Gwede Mantashe. Sibanyoni demands a 30% local stake in Putco and says that if anyone interferes with the bus company, “you should know it’s us”.

Months later, Putco recorded about 350 incidents in which its buses were allegedly stopped on Moloto Road by taxi operators. More than 50 of its buses were torched in co-ordinated arson attacks at several depots in Mpumalanga, including Moloto and Siyabuswa.

When you spoke to the president earlier that year, you said, you must know it is us if people interfere with the Putco business. You must know it is us. So why should we not assume that it was you?

—  Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson SC to Joe 'Ferrari' Sibanyoni

“When you spoke to the president earlier that year, you said, you must know it is us if people interfere with the Putco business. You must know it is us. So why should we not assume that it was you?” Chaskalson asked.

Sibanyoni sought to distance himself from the incidents. “I was not speaking on behalf of myself. I have mentioned that. The interest of the community and the business people at home,” he said.

He accused the commission of “personalising” the Putco issue, arguing that the bus operator did not fall within the commission’s mandate.

Chaskalson disagreed. “You have some meetings with Putco in 2023 … at the start of 2024, you make a speech to the president when you say, we are fighting for 30% of Putco,” he said. The threat that “when you see people interfering with Putco, you must know it is us” was followed by Putco experiencing blockades, he said.

He referred to the burning of Putco buses at three depots in KwaNdebele on January 25 2025. Two days later Sibanyoni was allegedly in communication with Sindane about buying buses, Chaskalson said.

“A month later, Taxi Choice, not the local community, made an unsolicited offer to purchase the whole of the Putco fleet. These seem to me to point to a single process where Putco is being placed under pressure to sell to Taxi Choice,” Chaskalson said.

Sibanyoni rejected the inference and denied any involvement in the attacks on Putco.

Sibanyoni was also questioned on:

• Police escorts he received that were allegedly organised by Sindane;
• His involvement in paying legal fees for a man described before the commission as an alleged taxi-industry hitman;
• His attitude towards the Kwagga 20, a group of alleged extortionists that included his nephew, Mandla Mtsweni; and
• Receiving internal police documents and sharing them with Sindane.

Meanwhile, axed SAPS crime intelligence boss Feroz Khan and another crime intelligence officer known as Witness S are among those expected to give evidence next week as the Madlanga commission moves into a period of in camera hearings.

Public hearings are expected to resume on November 9. Future witnesses include:

• suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu;
• former Independent Directorate for Anti-Corruption head Andrea Johnson;
• Gubis85 Solutions security company owner Calvin Mahlangu; and
• Sindane.

Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said the commission was also considering several applications for in camera testimony expected during October.

Mchunu is expected back in November, he said.

“The commission will throughout December and January focus on the final report, which is due to be submitted to President Cyril Ramaphosa on January 25,” Michaels said.

Sunday Times