Prominent Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni has been arrested in an early-morning operation and transferred to Pretoria, in a development that could have major implications for the ongoing Madlanga Commission hearings.
Sibanyoni, a well-known and influential figure in the province’s taxi industry, has repeatedly been named in explosive testimony before the commission. Witnesses have linked him to alleged police information leaks, underworld rivalries, and violent power struggles within the Mpumalanga taxi sector. His arrest marks one of the most high-profile detentions to come out of the commission’s investigation so far.
Authorities have not yet released the specific charges or full details surrounding the arrest, saying only that the operation was conducted in the early hours and that Sibanyoni is now in custody in Pretoria.
The Madlanga Commission was established to investigate political killings, corruption, and organised crime in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, with the taxi industry emerging as a central focus due to its links to violence and alleged collusion with law enforcement. Sibanyoni’s name has surfaced multiple times as a key figure in that network.
The arrest is likely to intensify scrutiny on the relationship between organised taxi associations and elements within SAPS, and could lead to further charges or testimony as the commission continues its work.
For now, police say investigations are ongoing and more information will be made public in due course.
