Madlanga commission to hear Bafana Sindane after WhatsApp bid struck from roll

Bafana “King of the Sky” Sindane’s legal attempt to prevent WhatsApp messages taken from his devices being read into the record at the Madlanga Commission has been struck from the court roll, meaning he must appear before the commission.

Bid to block messages dismissed

Sindane had challenged the admissibility of WhatsApp messages which were retrieved by the Mpumalanga Organised Crime Unit. The court’s decision to strike the bid from the roll removes the legal barrier to the messages being read into the commission record.

Postponement sought, medical certificate produced

His lawyers had sought a postponement until October after Sindane did not appear at proceedings on Wednesday. They produced a medical certificate in support of the postponement request.

Cultural defence raised by lawyer

Defence lawyer Thabani Masuku argued that proceeding without Sindane could be unfair, citing the taxi boss’s spiritual seclusion as a private and culturally significant process.

Criminal links and outstanding matters

The article notes Sindane as a close associate of Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni. Both men are co-accused in a criminal case involving allegations of R2 million in extortion and money laundering.

What the ruling means

With the bid struck from the roll, Sindane is required to appear before the Madlanga Commission and the WhatsApp messages retrieved by the Mpumalanga Organised Crime Unit may be used at the inquiry, subject to the commission’s procedures.

Published 1 hour ago