Blame us: Sibanyoni’s Putco warning to Ramaphosa comes back to haunt him

Controversial Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni has found himself under intense scrutiny at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where a resurfaced video of him addressing President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Gwede Mantashe has sparked significant controversy. In the footage, Sibanyoni is seen discussing a demand for a 30% stake in the bus company Putco, a move that has led to allegations that he was issuing a veiled threat to the country’s leadership.

Please assist us. When you find someone wanting to interfere with the Putco business, you must throw it, assist us. Don’t put the wrong thing. Assist us as, how do we get into this space?

During his testimony, Sibanyoni attempted to clarify his remarks, arguing that his use of the word “interfere” was intended to mean “engaging” with the company rather than threatening its operations. He maintained that he was seeking government assistance to secure a local content stake and subcontracts for his business entities, denying any involvement in the widespread torching of Putco buses that occurred in 2025.

Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson challenged this interpretation, presenting data showing that between October 2024 and January 2025, there were over 350 incidents where Putco buses were forced to turn around due to taxi blockades. Despite the evidence presented, Sibanyoni denied knowledge of the scale of these disruptions and rejected claims that his association was responsible for the violence.