Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni and co‑accused withdraw bid to block arrest

Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni and co‑accused Oupa “Bafana” Sindane have withdrawn an urgent court application that challenged arrest warrants in an extortion and money‑laundering matter, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed on Sunday.

How the case returned to court

The arrest warrants follow the NPA’s decision to re‑enrol a R2.2 million extortion and money‑laundering case that had been struck off the roll by the Kwaggafontein Magistrate’s Court on 18 May. The state alleges that between 2022 and 2025 four men forced a businessman in the Nkangala district to hand over more than R2.2 million in so‑called “protection fees.”

Withdrawal and next steps

Attorneys for Sibanyoni and Sindane filed a notice of withdrawal on Friday, which the NPA said ends the urgent application concerning the re‑enrolment and the arrest warrants. The matter had been set down for hearing in the Mbombela High Court on 2 June.

Related court developments and inquiries

The NPA said the Magistrates Commission has confirmed it is investigating a complaint lodged by the Director of Public Prosecutions in Mpumalanga against Chief Magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni on 26 May 2026. The NPA is also awaiting written reasons from Chief Magistrate Tonjeni and the date for a hearing of an application for leave to appeal filed on 22 May 2026.

Arrests and police stance

Three of the men linked to the case were arrested by law enforcement on 12 May. Sindane, who the state says attempted to evade arrest, later handed himself over to police on the Friday of the same week.

Mpumalanga police said there was still a strong case against Sibanyoni and his co‑accused in the Kwaggafontein extortion matter.

NPA response

“Their filing of the notice of withdrawal brings the matter to an end as far as the re‑enrolment of the criminal case and the warrants of arrest are concerned,”

NPA spokesperson Kaiser Kganyago

“The NPA reaffirms its position of using every legally permissible avenue to resist any litigation that seeks to militate against the upholding of the rule of law and holding those accused of criminality accountable,”

National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andy Mothibi

What this means

The withdrawal ends the urgent challenge to the re‑enrolment and the outstanding arrest warrants, while related inquiries and pending procedural matters remain before the courts and the Magistrates Commission.