Thomas Ntuli, the complainant in an ongoing extortion and money laundering case against Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni, has strongly denied allegations that he borrowed R900,000 from the accused.

Sibanyoni made the claim during his bail application, stating that he had allegedly lent Ntuli the money, which he further suggested had been repaid between 2022 and 2025.He also claimed that the two men were business associates and knew each other personally.Ntuli, however, rejected these assertions outright, saying there was no loan agreement between them and that the claims were false and malicious.He further distanced himself from Sibanyoni, stating that they were not friends and had never had a friendship.

According to Ntuli, a visit to Sibanyoni’s residence was not social in nature but rather a summons related to alleged extortion payments described as “protection fees”, including queries about missed payments.

Sibanyoni, along with co-accused Bafana Sindane, Mvimbi Masilela and Philemon Msiza, faces charges of extortion and money laundering linked to allegations that more than R2.2 million was extorted from Ntuli.

The case has also seen procedural disruptions, including a recent incident where the magistrate struck the matter from the roll after the prosecutor failed to appear, resulting in a contempt finding and a threatened warrant of arrest.The National Prosecuting Authority has since filed an appeal, temporarily halting the warrant.Ntuli also denied social media claims that he was contacted by a Member of Parliament who allegedly offered incentives to withdraw the case.He maintained that no such calls or promises were made and reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing justice through legal channels.He added that any recent encounter with Sibanyoni at a funeral was coincidental and related to a family bereavement.