JOHANNESBURG - The arrest of a prominent taxi boss in Mpumalanga has raised new questions about the reach of the underworld.
Investigators say Joe 'Ferrari' Sibanyoni is connected to alleged criminal kingpin and entrepreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and a network allegedly tied to violence and corruption in the taxi industry.
Arrest
The Mpumalanga Organised Crime Unit of the SAPS arrested three suspects, aged between 46 and 60, including Sibanyoni, on charges of extortion linked to a case reported in Kwaggafontein in 2025.
They were arrested on Tuesday in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, respectively.
The charge
According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo, it is alleged that the suspects demanded money from a businessman over an extended period until he reported the matter to the Kwaggafontein Police Station.
‘A significant development’
Weighing in on the development, forensic investigator Chad Thomas described the arrest as a major breakthrough.
He pointed to extortion linked to mafias and criminal groups targeting small businesses.
“We’ve known about protection rackets operating at all levels of society in South Africa, whether it’s government tenders where the so-called business forums, otherwise known as construction mafias, demand 30 percent of the tender value, all the way down to what we call spaza shop mafias and barber shop mafias, where people are being forced into paying protection fees.
“It’s become a major issue in South Africa.”
The man himself
Sibanyoni has built a transport empire in Mpumalanga, reportedly spanning taxis and buses.
He has held leadership roles in various associations, including Taxi Choice, the business wing of SANTACO, the South African Local and Long-Distance Taxi and Bus Organisation, and founded the Joe Sibanyoni Foundation, which focuses on infrastructure development, enterprise development, empowerment, enablement and education.
Court appearance
The suspects are expected to appear in the Kwaggafontein magistrate’s court on Wednesday on charges of extortion.
Masondo said one suspect remains outstanding.
“At this stage, the police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges against the arrested suspects in relation to other cases as the investigation continues,” he added.