BREAKING: JOE “FERRARI” SIBANYONI CITES ENGAGEMENTS WITH RAMAPHOSA AND MANTASHE IN HIS DEFENCE
Secret VIP Letters and Taxi Violence Shockwaves Unleashed in High-Stakes Inquiry
A dramatic confrontation unfolded inside the judicial commission of inquiry as state leaders presented a massive supplementary evidence bundle labeled CJC 452 through CJC 494.
The sudden introduction of the voluminous documentation sparked high-tension exchanges regarding high-level government interactions and explosive claims of high-profile taxi hitmen.
Mr. Spuni formally took the stand to defend his public standing, addressing exhibits CJC 469 and CJC 471.
Exhibit CJC 469 was identified as an official written invitation extended to Mr. Spuni on December 19, 2023, by the Mpumalanga House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders.
Mr. Spuni welcomed the document into evidence, testifying that it firmly validated his legitimate civic standing and leadership within broader provincial structures.
He argued that a statutory institution of such authority would never issue a formal invitation to an individual involved in organized criminal enterprise.
Exhibit CJC 471 documented high-level engagements between Mr. Spuni, President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Minister Gwede Mantashe during official electioneering visits to traditional and royal houses.
Mr. Spuni testified that these meetings focused on addressing fundamental community issues using his firsthand knowledge, proving he operates strictly as an engaged civic actor rather than a criminal operative.
The proceedings shifted abruptly when the commission examined severe identity confusion involving explosive media reports on taxi violence.
Exhibits CJC 484 and CJC 485 contained news reports detail-logging taxi violence, including an article titled “man sentenced to life for taxi violence” and another captioned “alleged taxi hitman remains in custody.”
The reports centered on an individual named Bholu Mashangu.
State evidence leader Mr. Musigi confirmed the articles were located at page 1383 of the indexed bundle, prompting the panel to question the relationship between the named hitman and the witness’s enterprise.
Mr. Spuni issued a stern warning to the panel, clarifying that Bholu Mashangu is an entirely different person from Calvin P. Mashangu, the founder of Guqas 85.
He testified under oath that he has zero knowledge of Bholu Mashangu and that the two individuals share no familial relation whatsoever.
Mr. Spuni explained that sharing surnames and totems is an ordinary occurrence among Black South Africans who have never met.
He urged the commission in the most emphatic terms to avoid conflating the two distinct identities, warning that making such an error would fatally undermine the reliability and integrity of any findings regarding Guqas 85 and the taxi sector.
The hearing grew increasingly tense as the state introduced exhibits CJC 478 through CJC 492, comprising WhatsApp extraction reports taken directly from the mobile device of Sergeant Gcosi and associated individuals.
The extracted chat logs implicated multiple figures, including Mr. Mashele, Mr. Mdlalose, Mr. Mashaba, Mr. Sato, Mr. Mthembu, Mr. Khambule, Sergeant Gcosi, team Roger, and various advocate figures.
Mr. Spuni stood firm on his constitutional rights under Section 35.3.J, explicitly reserving all legal challenges regarding the chain of custody, forensic methodology, completeness, and authentication of the messages.
He flatly refused to comment on the substance of the private text extractions due to his active criminal trial.
The chairperson intervened, reminding Mr. Spuni that Sergeant Gcosi was legally represented when he testified before the panel and placed the phone extractions into evidence without any objection.
The chairperson noted that Sergeant Gcosi had already confirmed the authenticity of the WhatsApp records under oath, distinguishing the device from Mr. Spuni‘s separate dispute over police extractions.
The commission then addressed exhibits CJC 493 and CJC 494, detailing evidence surrounding former Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga.
Exhibit CJC 493 was a formal letter sent by the commission on September 2, 2026, requesting an affidavit from Sindisiwe Chikunga, while CJC 494 contained her sworn response alongside hearing transcripts from August 28, 2026.
Mr. Spuni unconditionally stood by his prior testimony, describing how he personally met with Sindisiwe Chikunga during her tenure as Minister of Transport to report severe violence, killings, and safety threats originating from a farm outside Hamarsdale.
He testified that Sindisiwe Chikunga explicitly disclosed to him that certain officials within the Department of Transport suffered from divided allegiances, serving the Interests of the farm rather than the state.
Mr. Spuni insisted he never fabricated or exaggerated her words, stating he reported the matter out of civic duty and deep respect for Sindisiwe Chikunga.
He forcefully rejected past suggestions made by commissioner Advocate Gcina Malindi SC that he had sought to succeed or usurp the criminal power previously held by the late figure at the farm.
Mr. Spuni clarified that while he succeeded as a legitimate leader in the taxi industry, he held no association with the farm, no interest in its operations, and no desire to wield its influence.
The inquiry concluded the session by addressing exhibit CJC 482, a demand letter from Chris Kunge Incorporated, and CJC 483, the official appointment instrument of Major General Maku as acting commissioner of the Crime Intelligence Division.
Mr. Spuni noted that he was not a party to the demand letter and offered no substantive comments, while acknowledging Major General Maku‘s appointment as consistent with the changing institutional landscape of police intelligence.
A brief administrative standstill occurred when the panel discovered missing physical pages and misfiled evidence between pages 1378 and 1379, prompting Mr. Musigi to reorganize the state files before adjourning.
Copyright: MDNtv
