Mpumalanga taxi boss Oupa ‘Bafana’ Sindane is expected to face the Madlanga Commission on Monday after the inquiry rejected his bid to delay his testimony and ordered that evidence concerning him be heard “in whatever format”.
The commission’s written reasons have now placed the focus on why Sindane waited until days before his scheduled appearance to approach the High Court and seek a postponement.
Sindane was subpoenaed to testify on 23 September, but did not appear before the commission.
His legal team cited a medical certificate, spiritual seclusion and an urgent High Court application challenging the subpoena and the commission’s use of WhatsApp messages extracted from his cellphone.
The High Court application was launched on 21 September, two days before Sindane was due to testify.
In written reasons, commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga said Sindane had known about the grounds for his legal challenge since August.
Madlanga said Sindane’s lawyers had raised the issues with the commission as early as 8 August and again on 15 August.
The chairperson said Sindane nevertheless waited until 21 September to launch his High Court application.
“Mr Sindane sat idly by for a considerable length of time and only brought the High Court and postponement applications at the 11th hour,” Madlanga said.
He said the timing suggested that Sindane’s looming appearance before the commission had prompted the legal action.
The commission also rejected the request to postpone the testimony until after the High Court matter is heard on 6 October.
“The evidence of or concerning Mr Oupa Jossiah Sindane must be led on Monday 28 September 2026 in whatever format,” the commission ordered.
The inquiry said its timetable could not accommodate repeated delays because its work had to be completed within a limited period.
But the substantive questions facing Sindane go beyond the postponement dispute.
The commission served him with a Rule 10.6 notice in August requiring him to respond to evidence that may implicate him in alleged criminal syndicates and associations in the transport sector.
The notice includes questions concerning the group referred to in the commission’s record as the “Kwagga 20”, which is alleged to operate around KwaMhlanga and Siyabuswa.
The allegations remain untested and are not findings by the commission. Sindane has not yet given evidence before the inquiry.
The commission is also expected to examine WhatsApp communications involving Sindane and taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni.
Some of the messages have been linked in evidence to alleged discussions about hiring hitmen.
Sibanyoni has previously appeared before the commission and disputed allegations put to him.
Sindane and Sibanyoni are also co-accused in a separate criminal case involving allegations of extortion and money laundering.
They, together with two other accused, face allegations that a mining businessman was forced to pay more than R2 million in protection fees between 2022 and 2025.
Sindane additionally faces a money-laundering charge linked to the alleged proceeds.
The accused deny the charges and remain presumed innocent. The criminal case is separate from the commission’s inquiry.
Sindane’s High Court challenge against the commission’s subpoena and the use of his cellphone data is scheduled for 6 October.
That means the commission is moving ahead with evidence concerning Sindane before the court has heard his challenge.
The key question for Monday is therefore whether Sindane appears and, if he does, what he tells the commission about the alleged taxi syndicate networks, his relationship with Sibanyoni and the WhatsApp communications that have already come under scrutiny.
