NPA says urgent bid to block arrest warrants in Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni case withdrawn

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed that an urgent court application seeking to stop the execution of arrest warrants in the case involving Madoda Johannes Sibanyoni and others has been formally withdrawn.

Withdrawal notified to the DPP

The NPA said the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Mpumalanga Division received a notice of withdrawal on Friday, May 29 from attorneys acting for Messrs Sibanyoni and Sindane. The urgent application had been lodged on Wednesday, May 27 and sought to interdict the execution of a J50 warrant of arrest against the accused.

Background to the legal challenge

According to the NPA, the application followed the prosecution’s decision to re-enrol the criminal case, which had been struck off the roll on 18 May 2026 in the Kwaggafontein Magistrates’ Court. Prosecutors had obtained a J50 warrant of arrest and asked that the accused be presented through their legal representatives for the matter’s re-enrolment.

In response to the prosecution’s moves, the accused launched an urgent application against the National Director of Public Prosecutions (Adv Andy Mothibi) and the DPP, challenging both the execution of the warrants and the re-enrolment of the case. That matter was set down for hearing at the Mbombela High Court in Mpumalanga on June 2.

Dispute appears to be at an end

NPA national spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the withdrawal of the application brings an end to the dispute relating to the re-enrolment of the criminal case and the execution of the warrants of arrest.

Related procedural matters

The NPA noted that the Magistrates Commission has confirmed it is investigating a formal complaint lodged by the DPP against Chief Magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni on May 26. The authority added it is still awaiting written reasons from Chief Magistrate Tonjeni and a date for the hearing of its application for leave to appeal filed on May 22.