Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni, a prominent figure in Mpumalanga’s taxi industry, has denied corrupt dealings with bus operator Putco during a hearing at the Madlanga Commission. He stated that his discussions with government officials aimed to benefit the KwaNdebele community.
Sibanyoni is under scrutiny for alleged connections to organised crime and manipulation of government contracts. He explained that Putco’s CEO approached him to assist the company in moving from a month-to-month government contract to a longer-term agreement.
The businessman revealed that GCBS, an affiliated company, sought a 30% stake in local transport routes, and local businesses desired a share of the contracts. He facilitated a meeting between Putco’s CEO and government personnel at a political event attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe.
“My interaction with the president and a Cabinet minister was regarding legitimate public matters I was knowledgeable about,” he asserted, noting that the KwaNdebele community demanded a reserved percentage of transport routes for locals.
The commission showed video footage of Sibanyoni voicing his support for the ANC and urging more government involvement in services. He firmly stated he never sought payment or kickbacks from Putco.
Sibanyoni mentioned the community’s desire for a subcontract with Putco to run buses on designated routes. He also highlighted GCBS’s limitations in securing funding due to Putco’s month-to-month contract structure.
WhatsApp messages presented to the commission illustrated Sibanyoni’s attempts to secure the 30% allocation, where he expressed frustration over bureaucratic delays. In one message, he warned against “red tape” hindering their progress.
Sibanyoni added that he had not conversed with Putco since some of its buses were set ablaze approximately 18 months ago.
