Although he continues to face legal problems and his arrest, being reinstated to the leadership of the largest organization that oversees taxis in the country, SANTACO, has put the stamp of Joe Sibanyoni’s greatness on this industry.
Madoda Johannes “Ferrari” Sibanyoni is one of the oldest brothers in the taxi industry in Mpumalanga, known as the king who quotes kusale.
Sibanyoni (60) has three wives and 14 children.
He started working as a taxi driver in Kwaggafontein in 1985 and later bought his first taxi in 1995. Over the years, he expanded his work in this industry which is believed to have more than 400 taxis, making him one of the leading taxi drivers in the transport industry in South Africa.
His work in transportation is reported to include taxis, buses, transportation services, property investment and more. Apart from transport, Sibanyoni has various businesses in industries such as mining, construction, IT and property development.
He is one of the leading figures in the taxi industry and has held senior positions in taxi organizations such as SANTACO and SABTA.
His presence in this sector has made him a very powerful person in transport, especially in Mpumalanga. He is known by the nickname “Ferrari” because of his love for high speed cars. He often talks about his journey from poverty to becoming a successful entrepreneur.
The taxi industry in South Africa is notorious for violence and violent power struggles, male-dominated practices, surrounded by armed guards and agencies that do more than transport. This is what made the term of the old brothers “taxi mafias” stand out.
Sibanyoni’s name often appears in criminal business cases, especially in sectors such as construction, mining and illegal trade, where businesses are allegedly forced to pay a certain percentage of their income to operate. The people of Ndebele, Mpumalanga know very well that his name is never mentioned. Even drunkards never joke about him.
In 2022, young men tried to shoot Sibanyoni in Centurion, where he was shot twice, but he survived. This case was brought by Vusimuzi Cat Matlala, who is said to not face him even when they met at the joint.
In 2024, he tried to clear his name and reputation by launching the Joe Sibanyoni Foundation, which aims to tackle poverty, unemployment and social inequality. Through this organization, it is said that he supports Kwa Ndebele students at the university with R3 000 every month.
There is all this, the arrest of Sibanyoni has shaken the untouchable world, a new history is being written at the arm’s length of the law. Sibanyoni appeared with other accused Mvimbi Daniel Masilela, Philemon Msiza and Oupa Sindane on charges of fraud and two counts of money laundering.
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