Taxi boss Bafana Sindane did not appear at the Madlanga Commission on Monday, and the evidence against him went ahead in his absence. Image credit Supplied
Taxi boss Oupa Bafana Sindane failed to appear at the Madlanga Commission on Monday, despite an order that his evidence must go ahead. As a result, chief evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson read the Sindane Madlanga evidence into the record without him.
Sindane had tried twice to stop the hearing. On Friday, the commission rejected his request to postpone. Then on Monday morning, the High Court dismissed his second urgent application and ordered him to pay punitive costs.
What the Sindane Madlanga evidence revealed
Since Sindane stayed away, no witnesses testified on his behalf. Instead, Chaskalson relied on police dockets, financial records and WhatsApp chats that investigators recovered from Sindane’s phone.
First, the commission heard claims of an extortion racket targeting a mining businessman, Dr Ntuli. According to the evidence, Sindane and fellow taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni demanded R100 000 in cash in July 2022. Next, they allegedly asked for 40% of the income from his contracts.
Later, that demand allegedly became a monthly protection fee of R100 000, which then rose to R120 000. Investigators traced about R2.29 million in payments. Chaskalson told the commission that the men extracted these payments through threats of violence.
Second, the chats pointed to close links with police officers. Sindane had two SAPS contacts saved on his phone, one from a highway unit and one from Midrand. According to Chaskalson, these officers were at Sindane’s disposal and offered him escorts whenever he needed them.
Third, the commission heard that Sindane got hold of an internal Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department affidavit. The document related to blue lights on vehicles linked to businessman Vusimuzi Cat Matlala. Sindane allegedly had it within two days of its creation in September 2025. As a result, the evidence raised questions about leaks from inside the police.
Finally, the chats suggest that Sindane paid legal fees for two men convicted of murder.
Sindane still has a separate High Court challenge against the commission’s use of the WhatsApp messages. He argues that using them breaches his right to privacy.
Meanwhile, Sindane and Sibanyoni are co accused in a criminal case over alleged extortion and money laundering worth more than R2 million in Mpumalanga.
For now, the Sindane Madlanga evidence remains on record, even though the taxi boss has not given his side of the story.
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