By Johnathan Paoli
Taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni has claimed that suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya reported to the late taxi boss and Big Five cartel leader Jotham “Mswazi” Msibi’s farm and carried out his instructions, including an alleged order to have Sibanyoni killed.
Sibanyoni made the claim on Wednesday as he completed his final day of testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson questioned Sibanyoni about his relationship with Sibiya, his access to confidential police information and his links to people connected to law enforcement.
Sibanyoni said Sibiya was “reporting to the Farm”, but stressed that he had heard this and had not personally witnessed it.
“Whoever was reporting at The Farm, to me, I take it that he was carrying Mr Msibi’s instructions. And the example of that, one of those instructions, they carried out by shooting me at the Centurion Golf Estate,” Sibanyoni said.
The Hammanskraal-area property has featured prominently in testimony before the commission and has been linked to meetings involving senior police officers, businessmen and taxi-industry figures.
It was also allegedly used as a base by Msibi, known as “King Mswazi”.
Sibanyoni also claimed that Putco managing director Franco Pisapia had visited Msibi’s farm, although he said he did not know the reason for the alleged visit.
The claims formed part of wider questioning about Sibanyoni’s access to police officers and sensitive information.
Sibanyoni confirmed that SAPS officers had escorted him to taxi-related meetings.
Commissioner Sesi Baloyi questioned him about an internal police document concerning the acting appointment of a new crime intelligence head that he had forwarded to his deputy, Oupa “Bafana” Sindane, in July 2025.
Sibanyoni acknowledged that he knew he was forwarding an internal police document to Sindane, but said he could not remember who had originally sent it to him.
He said he and Sindane regularly exchanged information and that he believed Sindane was “just sharing” confidential police reports with him.
The commission also examined Sibanyoni’s Shosholoza Club stokvel and businessman Calvin Mahlangu, whose company Gubis 85 Solutions allegedly benefited from irregular payments by the Tshwane Metro Police Department.
Sibanyoni said Mahlangu participated in the stokvel in his personal capacity and denied that it was used to facilitate improper financial flows.
Chaskalson questioned several large transactions involving the stokvel, including a R30-million transfer into Sibanyoni’s Malambule Property Developments account, which Sibanyoni said was made in error.
Sibanyoni was eventually excused after thanking the commission for giving him an opportunity to “clear my name”.
He also thanked his family, supporters and legal team before quoting from the Bible, saying he had been “reviled” and that allegations against him had been made falsely.
The commission will now move into a largely closed phase of its work.
Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said there would be no proceedings on Friday because of prior commitments.
From Monday, the commission will sit in camera to hear evidence that cannot be aired publicly because of ongoing investigations or the confidential nature of the material.
It will also hold a two-day seminar in October to prepare for the drafting of its final report.
With local government elections scheduled for 4 November, Michaels said public hearings were expected to resume on 9 November.
He said the commission would then complete Phase Two, including the evidence of suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, before moving to Phase Three, when KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is expected to return to the witness stand.
The final report is due to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 25 January.
Criminally charged businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala’s appearance, which was scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed to 14 December after the commission acknowledged that his subpoena to testify had been served only the previous week, leaving his legal team unavailable to represent him on the scheduled date.
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