Arrest Warrant For Joe Sibanyoni Shocks SA, NPA Andy Mothibi COOKED Him Badly

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]Welcome back to the channel and today we are talking about the explosive return of the Joe Ferrari Saboni case to court after dramatic scenes, threats against a prosecutor, a controversial magistrate ruling, and growing fears that powerful forces may be trying to collapse one of Pumalonga's biggest extortion cases.

[00:00:21]South Africans, this story is no longer just about a taxi boss facing criminal charges. This case is now exposing what many people believe is a dangerous war happening inside the justice system itself. Because for the first time, the National Prosecuting Authority is openly challenging a magistrate claiming serious concerns about how the court handled proceedings in one of the country's most sensitive criminal cases.

[00:00:49]Um so I was checking with my team really because uh we didn't really communicate uh when the matter would be uh enrolled uh but on checking with the uh director of public prosecutions in Impumalanga um we we we had we had plans to reenroll it um but now but now the certainty has reached that uh it will be enrolled uh tomorrow um and as it appears that uh the information uh may have been uh sent out uh from the from the other side. Uh but um as as you know um you know the brief history is that this matter was stuck over the role in circumstances that really didn't make us happy in circumstances that the public frowned upon. Uh and this for us was really unfortunate because uh it would really you know send a message that uh that we we we we we should step up when it comes to the fight against organized crime cuz extortion, money laundering, all of those uh that this case is about really play a key role in the organized crime space and we are determined to ensure that we contribute to the fight against organized crime. So when the matter was struck of the role, of course um as worried as as I as I was, I immediately instructed the office of the director of public prosecutions in Bumalanga um to to to really start uh doing the work and and ensuring that you know we get off the ground to ultimately get the matter reenrolled. But we also had to deal uh with circumstances under which this case was struck of the role. I mean the Friday before the Monday when the case was struck of the role, the prosecutor appeared in court and indicated that he's not available on Monday. Um but it it it does appear from the transcript because we got the transcript. It does appear that uh you know the magistrate you know um didn't really you know uh entertain or listen to our prosecutor even using the language that is unquotely if I were to say um so so so we are of the view that uh in in doing so uh the magistrate's conduct is injudicious. Um and and and as I say you know as a judicial officer there is some prudence that is expected. Uh so we are of the view that her conduct on that day doesn't measure up so to to that standard and that's why we are taking it to the uh magistrates commission. We've launched the we've launched a complaint and the magistrate commission will deal with that whe with regard to the legality the compliance with the law in dealing with this matter. We are also taking this matter on a peak uh with regard to her to her order and and the and and the papers have been filed. So we'll take that process. With regard to the prosecutor uh we've listened to him.

[00:03:19]We reached out to the prosecutor on that day. uh and and and uh the information that he he gave us was that he was fearful for his life. He got information on his way to court and uh that that he was going to be killed and he he he turned back right um and uh and and and the messages were sent to the DPP's office and the message also was sent to Gua Fontaine uh senior prosecutor who relayed the message to the to the magistrate in Chambers in her office.

[00:03:45]Right. Um but to our surprise to our surprise the magistrate went to court and the case was called we don't even you know and and and and I say the circumstances have to be determined you know usually it would be the prosecutor that calls the matter you know up and you know the hand over the charge sheet to the magistrate and the proceedings proceed but in this case we don't know who called it um so so so we we we we were really caught by surprise but we believe that uh the processes that we have taken will bring justice and will set the record straight and the matter will be reenrolled and uh we for us is to mount a successful prosecution >> and >> and now many people are asking who wanted this case stopped why was the prosecutor allegedly threatened and how did a major extortion case suddenly collapse inside a courtroom Joe Ferrari Svenon and his three co-acused are accused of extorting more than our 2.2 2 million from businessman Thomas and Tilly between 2022 and 2025. According to the state, the money was allegedly demanded as so-called protection fees linked to mining and road construction projects. But from the beginning, this case has been surrounded by tension, fear, and allegations of intimidation.

[00:05:04]Then came the courtroom chaos that shocked the country. On May 18th, the entire case was dramatically struck off the court role after prosecutor and Chiselene Taba failed to appear in court. What happened next stunned legal experts and the public alike. Chief Magistrate Tulitu Tanini not only removed the case from the role, she also found the prosecutor guilty of contempt of court and issued a warrant for his arrest. The ruling immediately triggered outrage because many people could not believe that the prosecutor himself had suddenly become the one facing arrest while the accused walked free from court that day. And now the situation has become even more explosive. National Director of Public Prosecutions advocate Andy Moibby has confirmed that prosecutor Inaba's life was allegedly under threat. According to Moibby, Naba had already been on his way to court that day, but turned back because of safety concerns. That revelation completely changed the public conversation because now South Africans are asking whether the justice system itself came under pressure from dangerous forces linked to the case. The NPA says the matter was serious enough for the prosecutor to fear for his life.

[00:06:31]And despite this, the magistrate still proceeded to convict him of contempt and issue a warrant for his arrest. The prosecuting authority is furious. NPA spokesperson Kaiser Kinyago says the organization has now formally complained against Magistrate Tanini to the Magistrates's Commission. According to the NPA, there are serious concerns about how she handled proceedings on both May 15th and May 18th. The NPA believes the rulings could damage the administration of justice itself. And now the legal battle is escalating rapidly. The prosecuting authority has officially filed notices to appeal both the contempt conviction and the arrest warrant issued against Naba. In simple terms, the NPA is saying the magistrate got it wrong. Very wrong. This is an extraordinary situation because it is rare to see prosecutors openly challenge a magistrate in such a public and aggressive manner. But many people believe this case has now become bigger than Saboni himself. Online, some South Africans are openly questioning whether certain powerful interests wanted the case destroyed before it could move forward. Others believe the prosecutor was unfairly humiliated despite allegedly facing genuine threats to his life. And now there are growing calls for a full investigation into what really happened behind the scenes.

[00:08:05]Meanwhile, Joe Ferrari Sabonei continues to deny all allegations against him. He claims businessman Thomas Intelli was not a victim of extortion, but simply a business associate who borrowed money.

[00:08:19]His supporters argue the case is politically motivated. But critics are not convinced because according to the state, millions of Rand allegedly changed hands over several years under the guise of protection payments. And many people believe this case could expose deeper problems involving organized criminal influence, intimidation, and power networks connected to parts of the taxi industry.

[00:08:45]Now, because of rising tensions and safety fears, the case has been transferred to the Delma's magistrate's court. Authorities say the move was necessary due to the sensitivity of the matter. That alone tells South Africans just how serious this case has become.

[00:09:04]The courtroom appearance scheduled for Thursday is now expected to attract enormous public attention because people want answers. Was the prosecutor genuinely threatened? Who threatened him? Why did the magistrate proceed so aggressively against the state prosecutor? And most importantly, will this extortion case survive? Or is the justice system collapsing under pressure? Many South Africans online are now comparing this matter to previous high-profile cases where witnesses, prosecutors, investigators, or whistleblowers allegedly came under intimidation. Others say this entire situation proves that criminal syndicates and powerful networks are becoming too influential inside the country. And some are warning that if prosecutors begin fearing for their lives, then the entire justice system is in danger. Because how can major criminal cases move forward if officials handling them are allegedly receiving threats? That question is now haunting the country. What makes this even more controversial is that while the prosecutor faced contempt charges and an arrest warrant, the accused themselves walked out of court after the case was struck from the role. That image angered many citizens. Some people say it created the impression that the justice system punished the prosecutor more aggressively than the accused in the actual extortion case. Now all eyes are on Delmma's. The NPA says it remains determined to reenroll and pursue the case. Advocate Mibi says the suspension against prosecutor Naba may even be lifted if reports confirm the threats he described. That statement alone suggests the prosecuting authority believes there may be truth behind the prosecutor's claims. But the bigger concern remains the growing atmosphere of fear, tension, and instability surrounding high-profile criminal cases in South Africa. Because if prosecutors are allegedly being threatened, if courts and the NPA are now openly clashing, and if sensitive criminal cases are collapsing dramatically in courtrooms, then many South Africans fear the criminal justice system itself may be entering dangerous territory. The next court appearance could become one of the most closely watched moments in Ampumalonga this year because this is no longer just about Joe Ferrari Sabioni. For many South Africans, this case has become a test of whether the justice system can still stand firm when powerful interests, intimidation, and fear enter the courtroom.