“NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN” | R500M MOLOTO ROAD DEAL EMERGES IN SINDANE PHONE CHATS
Chilling Text Message Trail Uncovers Explosive Shakedown Scheme as Shadowy Syndicate Targets Major Infrastructure Contracts
A shocking wave of legal exposure crashed over the official proceedings as Advocate Matthew Chaskalson introduced a forensic timeline of leaked digital communications, laying bare what he formally categorized as a high-stakes extortion racket enforced through overt threats of operational shutdowns.
The courtroom fell silent as Advocate Matthew Chaskalson detailed an intricate series of text messages exchanged between prominent figure Mr. Sindane, Dr. Ntuli, and Mr. Sibanyoni, exposing a systematic scheme to siphon cash from lucrative state infrastructure projects.
The forensic presentation began with an encrypted message sent on March 30, 2023, where Mr. Sindane reached out to Dr. Ntuli, signing off under the official corporate moniker “the landlord growth point”.
In the message, Mr. Sindane delivered a calculated courtesy reminder regarding a secret verbal agreement forged the previous month, demanding a prompt update on financial transfers as the end of the month rapidly approached.
Digital records proved that Mr. Sindane escalated the pressure throughout April 2023, summoning Dr. Ntuli to face-to-face encounters at the personal private residence of Mr. Sibanyoni.
On April 4, 2023, Mr. Sindane dispatched a text message to Dr. Ntuli stating: “Good day Baba Ntuli. Can we do our meeting 4th of April? Can we do our meeting tomorrow which is Wednesday night if possible? Regards growth point landlords”.
After Dr. Ntuli requested a daytime gathering instead of a late-night encounter, Mr. Sindane altered the schedule, firing back: “Good Baba Mabena. Let’s make it 14:30 if accepted. Please confirm the venue”.
Mr. Sindane immediately confirmed the physical location, texting: “Yes, I confirm 14:30 tomorrow afternoon venue Mr. Sibanyoni’s residence”.
By April 19, 2023, Mr. Sindane issued another formal demand to Dr. Ntuli, writing: “Good evening Baba Ntuli. I hope you’re well. As per our telephonic conversation, I wish to confirm our meeting on Monday 24th April at 11:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at Centurion Golf Estate. Looking forward to progressive and fruitful discussions regards the landlord growth point”.
The situation turned hostile by February 2024, when Mr. Sindane sent a blistering text expressing deep frustration over missed payments, reprimanding Dr. Ntuli for ungentlemanly and unacceptable behavior.
The financial conflict reached a boiling point on July 2, 2024, when Mr. Sindane dispatched an explicit ultimatum to Dr. Ntuli, referencing a secret revenue-sharing split that directly involved the highest levels of power.
“I’m sad and disappointed to have to write another message to you to chase for payment,” Mr. Sindane wrote. “You’ll remember that we’ve been very lenient towards you regarding the deal that you have and our share in it. We had initially agreed on a 60/40 split between you and the president. This was later reviewed and reduced to a more manageable amount for you. You used to pay us 100,000, but I’m now left confused as to why you’ve reduced the payment yet again. This is not fair at all. Your operation continues to run yet we are not taken care of in an equitable way. It’s as if you’re not recognizing our contribution to the project. I demand a response within 48 hours detailing why the operation should not be stopped so that you can come and account”.
Forensic analysis of file five, page 2294, revealed that Mr. Sindane did not draft the harsh ultimatum himself, but received the exact text from Mr. Qwabe, the Chief Operating Officer of Taxi Choice, a corporate entity closely linked to Mr. Sibanyoni.
Digital evidence showed Mr. Qwabe saved in Mr. Sindane’s personal contacts as “Taxi Choice Tani”, while Mr. Sindane operated under the administrative designation “DP”, short for Deputy President.
Upon receiving the 48-hour threat, a panicked Dr. Ntuli fired off a lengthy explanation on July 2, 2024, attempting to justify why he had been unable to maintain the monthly 100,000 Rand payoff.
Dr. Ntuli explained that the financial shortfall stemmed directly from severe operational bottlenecks at King Civil, where testing of G5 construction materials faced lengthy approval delays from Sanral inspectors, drastically slowing the transport of product to the active job site.
Despite the operational delays, Dr. Ntuli pledged to restore the full 100,000 Rand monthly payment for June, explicitly writing: “The payment of the amount as agreed is an obligation. I should not worry about that. I promise that it would be transferred to the account of the president. Rest assured that I’m not here to spoil our relationship but rather than to improve it. I hope you will find this in order and for transparency I will copy our conversation to the president”.
Forensic records from file two, page 705, proved that Mr. Sindane immediately forwarded Dr. Ntuli’s full, unedited response directly to Mr. Sibanyoni.
Simultaneously, Mr. Sindane forwarded the pledge to Mr. Qwabe, who reacted cautiously, noting: “Noted with thanks. It’s not clear to me when he will pay the 100,000 for June”.
Mr. Qwabe then personally drafted a specific follow-up text for Mr. Sindane to send back to Dr. Ntuli, demanding: “Good morning, Mr. Ntuli. Feedback is noted. I’m hoping you will stick to your promise. Please clarify on when we can expect the 100,000 payment for June”.
Mr. Sindane copy-pasted the exact draft provided by Mr. Qwabe and sent it directly to Dr. Ntuli on July 3, 2024.
Dr. Ntuli instantly replied: “Message noted June payment next week Thursday”, a response that Mr. Sindane routed back to Mr. Qwabe, prompting a thumbs-up emoji in return.
Advocate Matthew Chaskalson emphasized to the panel that this elaborate paper trail represented a classic extortion apparatus, backed by formal affidavits from Dr. Ntuli stating he was warned that his state contracts would face violent disruption unless regular protection cash was funneled to Mr. Sibanyoni and additional funds were routed to Mr. Masilela.
The inquiry then shifted to a second, even larger infrastructure target uncovered on page 978 of the forensic files, featuring encrypted chats between Mr. Sibanyoni—saved under the contact name “MJ Sibanyoni”—and Mr. Sindane.
On January 9, 2025, at 12:01 p.m., Mr. Sibanyoni transmitted an extraordinary text to Mr. Sindane, writing: “LOL. I need a meeting. I have a 500 million deal for Moloto Road”.
In a rapid follow-up message, Mr. Sibanyoni revealed: “The director who got the contract wants to meet up with you”.
Mr. Sibanyoni then delivered a chilling context message on page 979, explicitly stating: “He used to report at the farm for all his Soshanguve projects, but he now knows there’s a new sheriff in town”.
Advocate Matthew Chaskalson explained that “the farm” referred directly to the private estate of the late Mr. Mbulawa, a powerful regional figure who had recently passed away in January 2025.
Just three minutes after receiving the text from Mr. Sibanyoni, Mr. Sindane forwarded the entire message chain regarding the 500 million Rand Moloto Road deal and the “new sheriff in town” directly to Mr. Masilela.
Advocate Matthew Chaskalson concluded his submission by noting that following the death of Mr. Mbulawa, major infrastructure contractors who previously paid protection money to the farm were forced to align with Mr. Sibanyoni to protect their commercial operations from violent interference.
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