The National Prosecuting Authority has officially reinstated charges against taxi tycoon Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni and his four co-accused.
Sibanyoni, alongside Bafana Oupa Sindane, Phillmon Makhaya Msiza and Mvimba Daniel Masilela, is expected to appear before the Kwaggafontein Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where they will face charges of extortion and two counts of money laundering.
NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago confirmed that the matter has officially been placed back on the court roll.
“We can confirm that the matter will be placed on the roll tomorrow,” said Kganyago.
The reinstatement of the charges comes a day after the NPA lodged a formal complaint with the Magistrates Commission against Chief Magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni following her controversial decision to strike the matter off the roll.
The dramatic developments stem from proceedings held on 15 and 18 May 2026 after State prosecutor Mkhuseli Ntaba failed to appear in court. It later emerged that Ntaba had allegedly received threats.
The complaint, filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions in Mpumalanga on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, raises serious concerns about the manner in which Tonjeni handled the proceedings.
Among the magistrate’s controversial rulings was finding the State prosecutor guilty of contempt of court and authorising a warrant for his arrest. Tonjeni also struck the criminal matter off the roll in terms of Section 342A of the Criminal Procedure Act, which deals with unreasonable delays in criminal proceedings.
The NPA has since filed notice for leave to appeal both the contempt ruling and the warrant of arrest issued against Ntaba.
In a strongly worded statement, the prosecuting authority said the proceedings raised “serious institutional concerns relating to judicial decorum, procedural fairness and the proper administration of justice.”
National Director of Public Prosecutions Andy Mothibi said the complaint was necessary to safeguard public confidence in the justice system.
“This process will go a long way in protecting the image of the criminal justice system,” said Mothibi.
The case involving Sibanyoni and his co-accused has attracted widespread attention in Mpumalanga, with legal analysts warning that the standoff between the NPA and the presiding magistrate could have far-reaching implications for prosecutorial independence and future criminal proceedings
