Joe Ferrari and Co-Accused Granted R70 000 Bail

Joe Sibanyoni and co accused granted R70 000 bail photo supplied

In a classic case of the proverbial short-lived freedom, the extortion case involving prominent taxi boss Joe ” Ferrari” Sibanyoni and his three co-accused was reinstated on Thursday by the National Prosecuting Authority and each accused was granted R70 000 bail after appearing at the Delmas Magistrate’s Court.

The case had been struck off the roll by Kwaggsfontein Chief Magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni at the Kwaggafontein Magistrate’s Court last week after Prosecutor Mkhuseli Ntaba failed to appear in court to opose the bail application of all the four men accused in the matter.

Sibanyoni and his co-accused are suspected of having extorted a Kwaggafontein businessman an amount of over R2,2 million for a period of time ranging from 2022 up until 2025.

The extortion victim finally reported the matter to the police last year after “getting tired of paying protection fee” to the four men.

The accused will now appear again in court on 1 September and their strict bail conditions entail that they report to their respective local police stations on alternate weeks and that they must not make any contact whatsoever with witnesses in the matter.

Meanwhile, the NPA has filed a complaint against Magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni regarding the way she handled the matter last week by striking the case off the court roll and releasing Sibanyoni and his co-accused, and then finding Prosecutor Mkhuseli Ntaba guilty of contempt of court in absentia.

It has now emerged that Prosecutor Ntabeni had been intimidated from attending the bail hearing and didn’t show up in court in fear of his life.

Please see attached for the media statement released by the Magistrates Commission regarding the complaint filed by the NPA against Chief Magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni.

Media Statement – S v S Sebanyoni and others (1)_260528_131239