Tuletu Tonjeni
The chief magistrate of Mpumalanga, Tuletu Tonjeni, is still being investigated in connection with her actions in the case against Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni and his co-accused.
Adv. Mkhuseli Ntaba, a prosecutor in the case, has meanwhile had his suspension lifted.
Tonjeni was the magistrate in the case against Sibanyoni and his three co-accused who were recently struck off the roll in the Kwaggafontein Magistrate’s Court, after Ntaba did not turn up for the court proceedings. Tonjeni then issued a warrant for Ntaba’s arrest and labeled his actions as “unprofessional” after she had previously asked him to be at court promptly at 9:00 a.m.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) expressed its concern about the manner in which Tonjeni handled the court proceedings on 15 and 18 May. The director of public prosecutions in Mpumalanga subsequently lodged a formal complaint against Tonjeni with the magistrates’ commission. However, Tonjeni officially retired on Friday. The magistrates’ commission has meanwhile confirmed that it has requested its ethics committee to consider the case properly at its next meeting scheduled for mid-June.
Ntaba was suspended after the events. However, Andy Mothibi, the national director of public prosecutions, has since decided to lift Ntaba’s suspension and allow him to return to work.
According to Ntaba, an interim report by the NPA’s office for ethics and accountability found that further investigation is necessary after last month’s events. The NGV said Ntaba provided a verified version regarding concerns about his safety. He was also found to be cooperating fully with investigating officers.
According to the NPA, he has meanwhile also received written reasons from Tonjeni in support of her judgment of contempt of court against Ntaba.
Maroela Media earlier reported that, after Tonjeni deleted the case from the roll, the case was put back on the roll for trial and obtained a J50 warrant for the arrest of Sibanyoni and his co-accused.
In response, Sibanyoni and his co-accused approached the High Court in Mbombela to prevent their arrest.
The accused then handed themselves over to the police and later appeared in the Delmas Magistrate’s Court, where they were released on bail of R70 000 each.
Meanwhile, the criminal case against Sibanyoni and his co-accused remains pending in the Delmas Magistrate’s Court.
They stand trial on charges of extortion and money laundering, related to alleged payments of around R2.2 million between 2022 and 2025.