The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has launched an urgent legal challenge to block the arrest and conviction of one of its prosecutors, Mkhuseli Ntaba, who was found guilty of contempt of court in the Kwaggafontein Magistrate’s Court. This comes after Ntaba failed to appear in court for the extortion and money laundering case against Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni.
The case, involving Sibanyoni, businessman Bafana “King of Sky” Sindane, and two co-accused, was struck off the court roll on Monday following Ntaba’s absence. The NPA has filed an application for leave to appeal the severe sanctions imposed by the Magistrate, which effectively freezes the situation, automatically suspending both the contempt conviction and the execution of the arrest warrant until the application can be formally heard and finalized in court.
NPA’s Appeal and Investigation
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the Mpumalanga Division has formally filed an application for leave to appeal, and the NPA has additionally filed a formal request demanding written reasons for the magistrate’s orders. The prosecuting authority intends to use these judicial explanations to supplement and strengthen their grounds for appeal if required. The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Andy Mothibi, has stepped in, consulting extensively with the regional DPP and securing an external legal team led by a reputable Senior Counsel.
This elite legal team has been tasked with formulating a sound approach to challenge the striking of the criminal case off the roll and to defend the state’s provincial interests. The NPA is hopeful that the Kwaggafontein Magistrate’s Court will expedite its written reasons due to the high-stakes urgency of an endangered prosecutor.
Case Background and Allegations
The four accused face allegations of extorting more than R2 million in so-called protection fees from a local mining entrepreneur. These claims have intensified scrutiny on alleged criminal networks operating within parts of the taxi industry. The NPA spokesperson, Kaiser Kganyago, said in an interview with eNCA that the authority will re-enroll the matter, and the NDPP has already talked to the team in Mpumalanga to facilitate all the processes.
According to the South African Police Service, the case is still under investigation, and the NPA is working closely with the police to ensure that justice is served. The NPA is preparing to re-enroll the extortion and money laundering case against Sibanyoni and his co-accused, and the authority is confident that the case will be successfully prosecuted.
- The NPA has launched an urgent legal challenge to block the arrest and conviction of one of its prosecutors.
- The case against Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni and his co-accused has been struck off the court roll.
- The NPA is preparing to re-enroll the extortion and money laundering case.
