‘KING MSWAZI’S FARM WAS TAXI UNDERWORLD HQ’ : BOMBSHELL AT MADLANGA INQUIRY
The late taxi tycoon Jothan “King Mswazi” Msibi’s farm allegedly operated as a powerful command centre for taxi-industry operations, political influence and criminal activity, the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has heard.
Mpumalanga businessman and taxi owner Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni made the explosive claims while testifying on Friday, alleging that Msibi wielded enormous behind-the-scenes influence and was effectively the “real president” during the administrations of Jacob Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa.
Sibanyoni told the inquiry that vast sums of unaccounted-for “bucket money” were controlled by taxi associations and allegedly used to finance violent battles over routes, including the hiring of izinkabi hitmen from KwaZulu-Natal.
He also claimed he warned then-Police Minister Bheki Cele in 2022 about an alleged syndicate operating from Msibi’s Hammanskraal farm, but said his warning was ignored.
Months later, Sibanyoni survived a high-calibre shooting that targeted his vehicle.
He further alleged that drug networks and private security operations were linked to the farm, while claiming his own taxi fleet was effectively blocked from operating between 2020 and 2024.
Sibanyoni credited KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi with helping reduce taxi-related killings, saying the commissioner had taken his concerns seriously.
The commission continues to investigate allegations of corruption, political influence, organised crime and violence within South Africa’s multibillion-rand taxi industry.