Sibanyoni, co-accused granted R70,000 bail each

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]News at Prime. Let's get into another important conversation pertaining to our courts. The magistrate commission says it is probing the NPA's complaint against Bumalanga Chief Magistrate Tleu Tonjeni. According to the commission, it received a complaint on Monday from the Bumalanga director of public prosecutions Manguana. The investigation comes a week after Tonjeni struck the extortion case against taxi boss Joe Banoni and three co-acused off the role. This is after the prosecutor failed to turn up at the Guaca Fontaine Mistress Court after allegedly receiving death threats. Now the commission meanwhile pleading that it will be that it be given the opportunity to address the complaint in accordance with its internal processes.

[00:00:55]All right, let's stay with that story because today Joseoni and his three co-acused were granted bail of 70,000 rand each. Siboni, Mafana Sindan, Daniel Masila, and Filmon Caesar face charges of extortion and money laundering. They appeared in the Delmas magistrate court after their case was placed back on parole. The group is accused of demanding over 2 million rand in protection fees from a businessman between the years 2022 and 2025 and threatening to shut down his operations if he refused to pay. Well, let's touch base now with the newsroom Africa's Vera Muadi who attended court proceedings today. She's with us in studio tonight.

[00:01:43]Veronica, good evening to you. lots of work that you were busy with in court today. But uh I think what stuck with me about your reporting was the complete change in the atmosphere including the behavior among the accused. Talk to us about what you observed that is completely different to what we saw the last time. Yeah, I mean Ollie, it felt like deja vu at some point uh in Dalmas where we saw uh Joseuni as well as the three co-acused back in the dock uh almost as though those celebrations that we saw back at the Guaca Fondane magistrate court was somehow shortlived because they had to essentially uh bring themselves before the police station there to have this matter uh reenrolled onto the court role uh and where we saw fresh bail applications. had truly a startling image even from the processes of going inside the court. The amount of police officers uh that were stationed at Dalmas Magistrate Court uh even the fact that um all four of them presented themselves to the police station. You'd remember Bafana Sindan accused number four joined this matter much later on after police saying that he was on the run uh and essentially were closing down on him. But what was also very different was the fact that the media didn't have to jump through hurdles to have their application to broadcast live. We were able to film the accused which was something we were not able to do in Gua Fund. But the demeanor of the accused is also something to to notice and to speak about. Initially we saw men in sunglasses, suits, sparkly sequin suits if you will. um uh even at some point um not really engaging with the magistrate and the matter before them. It was more the public gallery that was intrigued with how this case was moving back and forth. And today uh we had individuals who presented themselves to a court as they should you know as accused if you will >> almost as if to say Vera Muadi that they are not as invincible as they think they are. basically subjecting themselves to the court processes. You you point out a change in tonality particularly on the part of the the person the presiding officer. You are saying that there were no problems regarding the media getting in with their cameras but I think you also pointed to the prosecution as well is not just one prosecutor. Talk to us about that. That's a step change as well. That's an incredible difference as well uh because in the initial matter the prosecutor was one individual. Yes, he did have a team but he was handling the case of these different for accused.

[00:04:34]Hence he insisted on these bail applications to be delayed for further investigation. today uh confirmed by the National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Kaiser Kanyahu telling us of a team about four prosecutors strong in regards to this matter and it shows you a shift definitely a difference in initially how this case was handled uh at the very beginning uh perhaps to also the seriousness behind the charges uh but also the fact that the public uh is watching.

[00:05:05]>> Interesting indeed. Well, let's talk then about the way forward. What happens next?

[00:05:11]>> All right. So, as I've mentioned, almost deja vu, but fresh bail applications that we heard before the Dalmas magistrate court. We didn't get into the details because that was already fleshed out in their affidavits. But we heard uh the magistrate there, Bhutlesi, given the four accused 70,000 rand each in terms of their bail. Uh the state not uh essentially uh fighting this bill. It went unopposed uh from the state's side.

[00:05:37]Various conditions were placed for them.

[00:05:40]One of them being that they needed to, of course, to present themselves to a police station, not to interfere with witnesses. This was a big one because safety is a concern, but we'll get to that fully. Uh, and another one of course making sure that, uh, they report to the police station. But, uh, a issue that was raised by the defense, this is Jose Boni, as well as Bafana Singani's lawyer, Shaun Abrahams, was the issue of the J50 arrest warrant. the morning we were in a frenzy after we got a hold of papers intended to be filed in the high court that was fighting initially this call that they had to present themselves before the police station and ultimately the magistrate court. Abrahams touched on this in the matter calling that decision by the NPA almost a uh irrational unlawful and at some point having the clear hallmarks and I quote of a malicious prosecution. Have a listen.

[00:06:35]I deem it prudent to place on record that my clients have uh approached this court or have subjected themselves to the surrender of the J50 warrant against my advice and they be they're before this court against my professional advice and I've advised that the warrant is manifestally unlawful.

[00:07:04]It's unconstitutional.

[00:07:07]It's an abuse of process.

[00:07:12]And the obtainment thereof lacks rationality. and the appropriate process that ought to have been adopted by the authorities would have been the provision of section 54 of the CPA by summoning my clients and their co-acuse to this court. It's for that reason that we on the instructions of all my clients who changed their mind this morning that we filed an urgent high court application last night in the high court of this jurisdiction in which we challenged the legitimacy of the J50.

[00:07:57]Sean Abrams there. Interesting comments coming from a man who himself led the prosecuting authority not too long ago.

[00:08:07]He indicated that his client is someone whose uh safety >> is is something to be concerned about.

[00:08:15]Very interesting given that the state on the other hand we've just heard yesterday from Indibi the head of the NPA that the prosecutor previous prosecutor had allegedly received death threats and that's part of the reason he may not have shown up in court. Talk to us about Jose and the threats alleged threats against him. Well, Abrahams told the court uh that when it comes to the conditions that have been set out, particularly with these bail conditions, is that he has to report to a police station that he's asked the court not to reveal uh for the safety of his client, not just Sony as well as Sindani. Uh he also linked this to the J50 warrant of arrest saying that he fears that his client may be facing uh possible police brutality that may also be linked uh to putting his life in danger. Now you'd remember that the charges uh that alleged crime boss Vousimus Matlala faces are 11 counts of attempted murder.

[00:09:18]One of those is the failed assassination of Joe Signoni and this was brought up by Abrahams in the court.

[00:09:26]It was your my understanding from the discussion and the debate we had with the state was that my clients are required well all the accusers are required to report to a police station um of their choice uh bi-weekly that's every every alternate week. Um the arrangement that we have made is that we don't specifically place on record which police station. It will be an arrangement that we make with the state as to the specific date at a specific police station. Um my clients lives have been in danger. It's an issue we have taken up with the state. um it's it's in the public domain your worship and uh in order to protect their interest um and their lives that we've resorted to the agreement and we request your worship uh to humbly acquis.

[00:10:20]Um, in fact, it's a matter of public record that accused number one was a subject of an assassination attempt right at the entrance of his residence.

[00:10:29]Um, among other attempts uh and conspiracies uh to to to to eliminate him and accuse number five has been subjected to similar threats.

[00:10:41]>> Interesting indeed, Veronica Makadi. So this matter I it goes back to court I think in September but something is going to happen in June. Just talk to us about that.

[00:10:52]>> That's correct. Just next week on the 2nd of June we're heading back to the high court uh uh in Bombella. This is of course in regards to that J50 warrant of arrest that he will be challenging in terms of the means that he had to essentially present himself to the court. Uh we even heard from the uh police in Bumalanga that when the accused did not show up at 9:00 they were on standby uh to fetch them and to arrest them. It shows just how serious this matter of course is before the courts and as we've heard Abrahams presenting his you know accused as uh you know an individual who's had his life you know threatened. At the heart of this is still very serious charges that faces a taxi giant but also has put the industry in itself under severe scrutiny.

[00:11:37]>> Indeed. In fact, that's one of the matters or elements we we haven't discussed. The the constant presence of Santo's leadership, including its president, uh, Mr. Abner. Very interesting indeed. I wish to have a conversation with him. I saw you talking to him in court today and he didn't want to say much, but we we're going to continue putting in those requests for an interview. Thank you very much, Veronica Muadi, covering that story for us. excellent work that she's done today at court.