The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) says it is closely monitoring developments involving taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni as the organisation considers whether leadership changes may be required following his arrest on allegations linked to extortion and money laundering.
Speaking on the sidelines of Santaco’s national elective conference in Boksburg on Monday, national spokesperson Rebecca Phala said the organisation would allow legal processes to unfold before making any decisions.
“So we’re allowing for the legal processes to play out. The good thing about it is the investment arm is not a sole proprietor business where you only have one director so there are many other people who are leading alongside the executive chairman, Mr Sibanyoni.”
Phala added that operations linked to Santaco’s investment structures had continued despite the controversy surrounding Sibanyoni.
“The work has not necessarily stopped because of what’s happened in relation to the chairman of the board so that process is obviously taking its own shape very much different and away from the council and the work that it does,” Phala said.
Santaco Leadership Considers Possible Changes After Sibanyoni Arrest
Sibanyoni serves as a director of Santaco Trading Pty Ltd, which operates as TaxiChoice, and has previously played a leading role in regional taxi industry structures.
Phala said Santaco leadership would determine whether any changes were necessary as the case progresses.
“The leadership will advise should it be that they see a need to make any sort of changes in that particular regard. But until now the work is continuing.
“We are not operating as a sole proprietor. There has not been any crisis in terms of the work that the investment arm is doing despite what’s happening in terms of the case that you’ve mentioned,” she told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika.
The developments come as South Africa’s taxi industry faces renewed attention following the collapse of an extortion case against Sibanyoni and three co-accused.
Known by the nickname “Ferrari” because of his fondness for the luxury Italian sports car brand Ferrari, Sibanyoni was recently arrested on allegations involving extortion and money laundering.
Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni Extortion Case Struck Off Court Roll
Sibanyoni, alongside co-accused Bafana Sindane, Mvimbi Masilela and Philemon Msiza, faces allegations of extorting more than R2.2 million from a mining businessman between 2022 and 2025.
The accused allegedly demanded protection fees from the complainant before a case was opened with the South African Police Service (SAPS).
However, the matter was struck off the court roll after prosecutor Mkhuseli Ntaba failed to appear in court.
Ntaba was later found in contempt of court after missing a scheduled bail hearing on Monday.
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According to reports, the prosecutor had allegedly turned back while travelling to court after receiving threats. Magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni indicated that a warrant for Ntaba’s arrest would be authorised.
Bail proceedings for the accused began on Friday, with Tonjeni ordering the matter to continue on Monday.
Sibanyoni’s legal team, led by advocate Shaun Abrahams SC, applied for the matter to be struck from the roll and requested that Ntaba be held in contempt of court.
Abrahams argued that steps should be taken against the prosecutor.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has since confirmed plans to re-enrol the matter.
SAPS Maintains Strong Case Against Taxi Boss And Co-Accused
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said investigators remained confident in the strength of the case against the four accused.
“The SAPS has noted that the matter was struck off the court roll after the prosecutor failed to appear in court. The SAPS Mpumalanga Organised Crime Unit maintains that it still has a strong case despite the latest developments,” Masondo said.
He stated that organised crime investigators had handled the investigation, leading to the arrests and initial court proceedings.
“Strong evidence against the suspects with regard to the matter remains intact,” he said.
“The SAPS will continue engaging with the National Prosecuting Authority regarding the case.”
Who Is Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni?
Sibanyoni rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most prominent figures in South Africa’s taxi industry.
Reports indicate he began working as a taxi driver in 1985 before purchasing his first taxi about a decade later.
Over time, he expanded his business interests into transport, construction, mining, logistics, information technology and property. His reported business empire is estimated to be worth more than R300 million.
Sibanyoni is believed to oversee a transport network of approximately 400 minibus taxis operating across Gauteng and Mpumalanga. He has also served in senior Santaco leadership positions, including provincial chairperson and deputy president.
Despite the allegations against him, Sibanyoni has also been associated with charitable work through the Joe Sibanyoni Foundation, which assists vulnerable communities in Mpumalanga with food parcels and housing projects.
