By Marcus Moloko
In a dramatic turn of events, Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni and his three co-accused, Mvimbi Daniel Masilela, Philemon Makhaya Msiza, and Oupa Josiah Bafana Sindane, walked free on Monday after their case was struck off the roll.
The matter collapsed when senior prosecutor Mkhulise Ntaba failed to appear in court despite a direct order from the presiding magistrate.
The court subsequently issued a warrant of arrest for Ntaba and may find him guilty of contempt.
Representing Sibanyoni, former National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams pleaded with the court to have the matter struck off the roll following a no-show from the prosecutor.
“I am instructed to file an application to find the prosecutor in contempt of court, the second to request to strike this matter off the roll, alternatively, the bail application to grant the accused bail.”
Abrahams went further, urging the magistrate to consider direct imprisonment for Ntaba and to report him to both the Legal Practice Council and the National Prosecuting Authority.
The case was scheduled for a bail hearing, but with the prosecutor absent, the magistrate ruled that the matter could not proceed and struck it off the roll.
The decision effectively freed Sibanyoni and his co-accused, who had been facing charges of extortion and money laundering linked to alleged protection fee schemes.
Ntaba had informed the court on Friday that he would not be available, but the presiding officer ordered him to attend. His failure to comply has now triggered disciplinary and legal consequences.
Speaking following the ruling, Sibanyoni said he remained positive about today’s proceedings.
