Taxi boss Bafana Sindane is expected to testify before the Madlanga Commission on Monday after his bid to delay failed. Image credit Supplied
Taxi boss Oupa Jossiah Sindane, whom many call Bafana or King of the Sky, must appear before the Madlanga Commission today. The Bafana Sindane Madlanga appearance goes ahead after the commission rejected his last minute bid to delay his testimony.
On Friday, commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga ruled that the commission will hear evidence by or about Sindane on Monday in whatever format. In other words, the evidence can go ahead even if Sindane does not appear in person.
Why the Bafana Sindane Madlanga postponement bid failed
Sindane’s legal team asked the commission to delay his testimony on three grounds. First, they submitted a medical certificate. Next, they said he was in spiritual seclusion, which they called a private and culturally significant process. Finally, they pointed to his pending High Court challenge against the commission’s subpoena.
However, Madlanga found that Sindane knew about his grounds for the court challenge in early August. Despite this, he only filed his High Court application on 21 September, just two days before his scheduled appearance.
According to the ruling, Sindane sat idle for a long time and only acted at the eleventh hour. Madlanga added that his looming appearance seemed to be what pushed him into action.
As for the medical certificate, the commission accepted it. Still, the certificate showed that Sindane could return to work by Monday, and Madlanga took that to mean he could testify as well.
Separately, Sindane has gone to the High Court to stop the commission from using WhatsApp messages that police took from his phone during a criminal investigation. He argues that using them infringes his right to privacy. The messages, between Sindane and fellow taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni, allegedly refer to hitmen.
Sibanyoni, whom people call Ferrari, is Sindane’s close associate. The State has charged the two men together in a separate criminal case involving alleged extortion and money laundering worth more than R2 million in Mpumalanga. Sibanyoni has already testified before the commission and has also challenged the use of the phone evidence.
The Madlanga Commission is investigating allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system. Its work has already led to several arrests, including that of suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya last week.
For now, all eyes are on the commission as it prepares to hear the Bafana Sindane Madlanga evidence today.
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