JOHANNESBURG - The National Prosecuting Authority has filed an application for leave to appeal the contempt of court order and warrant of arrest against prosecutor, Mkhuseli Ntaba.
Ntaba failed to appear in the case against prominent taxi boss Joe 'Ferrari' Sibanyoni and his co-accused's bail hearing at the Kwaggafontein Magistrate’s Court.
They faced charges of extortion and money laundering.
In a dramatic and highly unexpected turn of events, Sibanyoni, Mvimbi Masilela, Philemon Msiza, and Bafana Oupa Sindane walked out of court as free men.
WATCH: SA Explained | Joe 'Ferrari' case struck off the roll | 21 May 2026
Chief Magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni struck the high-profile case off the roll, and a warrant of arrest was issued for the prosecutor.
The prosecutor had informed the court last week that he would not be able to attend Monday’s proceedings.
Despite this, the magistrate ordered him to appear.
WATCH: CheckPoint | Joe “Ferrari’ | 17 May 2026
Now, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Mpumalanga Division has filed an application for leave to appeal against the orders granted by Tonjeni on Monday.
"The orders that the DPP seeks to appeal are, among others, the conviction of the prosecutor for contempt of court and the order authorising a warrant of arrest against him," the NPA said in a statement.
"In terms of our legal system, the implication of the filing of the said application is that the orders are automatically suspended until the hearing of the application for leave to appeal and finalisation thereof.
"In addition to the notice for leave to appeal, the DPP has also filed a formal request for written reasons for the orders with a view to supplement the grounds upon which the leave to appeal is based, if necessary."