Taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni denies Putco bus attacks after warning Ramaphosa
South Africa - Pretoria -29 September 2026 - Mpumalanga taxi boss and businessman Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni, appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Remember the 50 Pucto buses torched in Mpumalanga on January 27, 2025? Taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni had already told President Cyril Ramaphosa that if there were reports of disruptions to PUTCO’s operations, they should immediately attribute them to his group, but he now denies any involvement in the attacks.
Sibanyoni made the warning during an ANC campaign event in KwaNdebele in 2024, where Ramaphosa and ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe were present.
Footage played at the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday showed Sibanyoni telling Ramaphosa that local groups wanted a 30% operational stake in PUTCO, warning that they would take matters into their own hands if their demands were not addressed.
“We want to play a role. We are busy engaging with Putco,” Sibanyoni said, 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.”
He then appealed to the state to help local groups gain 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 remarks came under renewed scrutiny after the January 2025 attacks, when armed men allegedly stormed four PUTCO depots — Moloto, Wolwekraal, Siyabuswa and Vaalbank.
Security personnel were reportedly tied up and employees assaulted. One worker was shot in the leg before the attackers used flammable liquids to torch the buses.
Evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC questioned Sibanyoni about the apparent link between his warning and the subsequent violence.
Sibanyoni firmly denied involvement.
“It was not me, let’s not personalise this,” he said.
He maintained that his engagement with Ramaphosa and Mantashe concerned legitimate community and public issues.
“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.
