Madlanga Commission to rule on Bafana Sindane postponement bid after no-show and spiritual seclusion claim

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is expected to issue a ruling after taxi boss Bafana “King of the Sky” Sindane failed to appear to give evidence on Wednesday, 23 September 2026 and his lawyers applied to postpone his testimony.

Why the postponement was sought

Sindane’s legal team submitted a medical certificate and asked that his testimony be postponed until October. Separately, his lawyers said Sindane has launched a court application seeking to prevent him from testifying and to stop the commission from using his cellphone messages as evidence.

Spiritual seclusion and legal arguments

Defence counsel argued that Sindane’s spiritual seclusion is private and culturally significant and could not simply be interrupted for the inquiry. His team said publishing his evidence during the seclusion period would be unfair and could prevent him from properly following the proceedings.

“The proceedings may well be regarded as having absolutely no merit at all, but that’s for the court that hears the application to decide that.” Thabani Masuku

Commission response and timetable concerns

Commission chair Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga said there was no public hearing scheduled for Friday morning and that the commission’s decision would be released online:

“The statements will be shared through our platform.”

Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC, the commission’s chief evidence leader, did not dispute the medical certificate but opposed a broad postponement. He described Sindane’s court challenge as a “self-created urgency” and warned:

“Our programme is tight.”

Associations named in reporting

The reporting identifies Sindane as a close associate of Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni.

What the available report does not include

• The commission’s final ruling was not included in the available report.
• The exact timing of any published statement was not given.
• Details of Sindane’s medical condition and specifics of the spiritual practice or court filing were not disclosed.

The commission’s forthcoming statement on its online platform will set out its position on the postponement application and the related court challenge.