Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni Denies Involvement In PUTCO Bus Attacks After Ramaphosa Warning

Taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni has denied any involvement in the attacks that left dozens of PUTCO buses torched in Mpumalanga in January 2025, despite having warned President Cyril Ramaphosa months earlier that disruptions to the company’s operations should be attributed to his group.

The warning, made during an ANC campaign event in KwaNdebele in 2024, resurfaced at the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday when footage of Sibanyoni addressing Ramaphosa and ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe was played to the inquiry.

Sibanyoni told the commission that his interaction with the president and Mantashe concerned legitimate community and public matters and rejected suggestions that his remarks were connected to the subsequent violence.

Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni Warned Ramaphosa About PUTCO

Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni told Ramaphosa during the 2024 event that local groups wanted a 30% operational stake in PUTCO, which has operated in the KwaNdebele area for decades.

“We want to play a role. We are busy engaging with Putco,” Sibanyoni said, while pointing to the company’s 40 years presence in the area.

“When you find someone wanting to interfere with the Putco business, you must know it’s us.”

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Sibanyoni also called on the state to assist local groups seeking access to the business, saying the 30% share belonged to the people of KwaNdebele.

“If they don't follow that, we will fight for ourselves,” he warned.

The footage has come under renewed scrutiny following the January 2025 attacks, when armed men allegedly targeted four PUTCO depots in Moloto, Wolwekraal, Siyabuswa and Vaalbank.

PUTCO Bus Attacks Left Employees Injured

PUTCO bus attacks on January 27, 2025, reportedly involved armed men storming several depots, where security personnel were allegedly tied up and employees assaulted.

One worker was reportedly shot in the leg before the attackers allegedly used flammable liquid to set buses alight.

The violence resulted in dozens of buses being torched, prompting questions about the circumstances surrounding the coordinated attacks and whether they were connected to disputes over control of the bus company's operations.

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Evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC questioned Sibanyoni about the apparent connection between his earlier warning to Ramaphosa and the subsequent attacks.

Sibanyoni firmly rejected the suggestion that he was involved.

“It was not me, let’s not personalise this,” he said.

Sibanyoni Denies Link To PUTCO Violence

Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni maintained that his engagement with Ramaphosa and Mantashe was based on issues he said were legitimate public and community concerns.

“My interaction with the president and a Cabinet minister was conducted in relation to legitimate public and community matters of which I had firsthand knowledge,” Sibanyoni said.

His evidence comes as the Madlanga Commission continues examining allegations involving criminality, corruption and political interference, including evidence concerning Sibanyoni and his associates. The commission has also heard allegations involving Sibanyoni and Bafana “King of the Sky” Sindane in a separate R2 million extortion case, allegations both men have denied.

The commission has not made a final finding that Sibanyoni was responsible for the PUTCO attacks.

The proceedings continue.