The case against prominent taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni and his two co-accused have been postponed to Friday following a debate over whether the matter should proceed immediately with a bail application or first appoint the presiding judicial officer.

Delivering his ruling at the Kwaggafontein Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga on Wednesday, Magistrate Johan Erasmus found that it would “not be in the interest of justice” for the court to continue with bail proceedings on Wednesday, after confirming that the provincial chief magistrate, Tully Tonjeni, would preside over the matter on Friday.

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The postponement followed hours of arguments between the prosecution and defence teams over the handling of the case, the availability of the charge sheet and the prosecution’s request for additional time to investigate.

Sibanyoni appeared alongside co-accused Mvimbi Daniel Masilela and Philemon Msiza on charges of extortion and two counts of money laundering.

The state indicated that it was opposing bail and sought a seven-day postponement to gather further evidence, adding that investigations into the alleged extortion scheme were ongoing and that one suspect remained at large.

Former National Director of Public Prosecutions, senior counsel Shaun Abrahams, representing Sibanyoni, strongly opposed any delay, accusing the prosecution and investigators of being unprepared despite the matter having been under investigation for months.

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Abrahams told the court that the rights of the accused were being “trampled” on and argued that administrative decisions could not supersede constitutional protections.

He criticised what he described as a lack of communication from both prosecutors and investigators ahead of the hearing.

“From a professional perspective it is unacceptable, from a congenial perspective it is unacceptable,” Abrahams told the media before proceedings.

Inside court, he said the investigating officer’s phone had allegedly been switched off and accused senior prosecutors of ignoring attempts to communicate while his client remained in custody.

He further argued that the state had failed to provide the defence with a charge sheet ahead of proceedings, despite insisting it was ready to oppose bail.

When Magistrate Erasmus asked whether the charge sheet had been furnished to the defence, the state conceded it had not yet been provided.

Abrahams told the court access to the document was essential for a meaningful bail application.

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The defence also disputed the classification of the matter, arguing the charges constituted a Schedule 5 offence rather than a Schedule 6 offence.

Abrahams insisted the defence teams were fully prepared to proceed immediately with bail applications and accused the prosecution of abusing court processes.

Erasmus ultimately ruled that the matter should stand down until Friday, citing both the interests of justice and the need for the provincial chief magistrate to preside over the proceedings.

The parties agreed that Friday’s hearing would deal with the formal bail application.

The state maintained throughout proceedings that it had not said it was unprepared, but argued additional time was required to gather evidence for bail proceedings.

Abrahams, however, said continued detention would be punitive and prejudicial to his client, adding that Sibanyoni’s bail affidavit was already prepared.

Speaking to the media during a short adjournment, Sibanyoni denied wrongdoing and maintained his innocence.

“I’m not involved with this case. I am now preaching in prison. We are continuing with the word of God. It’s just time for me to preach in jail,” he said.

Mpumalanga police confirmed on Wednesday that they had made contact with a fourth wanted suspect linked to the matter, who had allegedly promised to hand himself over.

The case stems from an extortion investigation opened in Kwaggafontein in November 2025 after a businessman in the mining sector alleged he had been subjected to prolonged demands for money amounting to millions of rand.

Sibanyoni, a powerful and controversial taxi boss with business interests across Mpumalanga and Gauteng, was arrested alongside Masilela and Msiza in coordinated SAPS Organised Crime operations conducted in Mpumalanga and Gauteng on Tuesday morning.

Police have indicated that further charges may still be added as investigations continue.

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