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28 September 2026 | 19:00

PRETORIA — The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has heard evidence about WhatsApp communications between retired Major-General Botsotso Moukangwe and Mpumalanga taxi boss Oupa “Bafana” Sindane, including alleged requests for money and sponsorship for Moukangwe’s farewell function before messages later indicated police escorts were arranged for Sindane.

The messages were presented to the commission on Monday by chief evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC as the inquiry examined alleged relationships between police officials and figures in the taxi industry.

The material came from Sindane’s cellphone, which has become a central part of the commission’s investigation into his alleged links to police officers and other individuals.

Sindane was scheduled to testify before the commission on Monday after his earlier postponement application was dismissed. His urgent High Court application challenging the use of material taken from his phone was also struck off the roll with a punitive costs order.

Messages allegedly began with farewell-party requests

According to the evidence presented, the initial communications between Moukangwe and Sindane involved requests for financial assistance and sponsorship for Moukangwe’s work farewell party as he approached retirement from the South African Police Service.

The messages were subsequently followed by communications indicating that Moukangwe arranged for members of the police Flying Squad to provide escorts connected to Sindane’s activities.

The commission heard that Sindane had saved the relevant telephone number under Moukangwe’s name.

Chaskalson told the inquiry that tracing of the number confirmed that it belonged to Moukangwe, a retired police officer who previously served as a deputy provincial commissioner for detectives.

The evidence forms part of a broader examination of whether relationships between senior police officers and taxi-industry figures went beyond legitimate professional interaction.

Police escorts for Sindane

Other WhatsApp material from Sindane’s phone has also been used by the commission to examine alleged arrangements involving police officers.

Separate evidence presented on Monday concerned a police contact saved as “Lepara SAPS Highway”.

Chaskalson told the commission that the officer appeared to be “essentially at the disposal of Mr Sindane to offer him escorts”.

The commission is examining these communications alongside other material concerning Sindane’s relationships with police officials.

The inquiry has not made a finding that any police officer acted unlawfully.

Who is Bafana Sindane?

Sindane, known in the taxi industry as the “King of the Sky”, is a KwaMhlanga-based taxi boss and an associate of taxi-industry figure Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni.

He is also a co-accused with Sibanyoni in a separate criminal case involving allegations of extortion and money laundering.

According to the public record of the commission, Sindane faces allegations that he and others were involved in forcing a mining businessman to pay unlawful protection fees. Sindane denies the criminal allegations and remains presumed innocent.

The commission has also issued Sindane with a Rule 10.6 notice, meaning evidence before the inquiry may implicate him and he is entitled to respond to it. A Rule 10.6 notice is not itself a criminal charge or a finding of wrongdoing.

Why the cellphone evidence matters

Sindane had challenged the commission’s use of WhatsApp messages taken from his phone.

His legal team argued that the material should not be used while his own legal challenge was pending.

The commission rejected his postponement application and ordered that evidence concerning Sindane be led on Monday “in whatever format”.

The Gauteng High Court subsequently struck his urgent application off the roll and imposed a punitive costs order.

That decision cleared the way for the commission to continue examining the WhatsApp material.

Moukangwe has not yet answered the allegations

The material involving Moukangwe remains evidence presented to the inquiry rather than a finding against him.

The retired major-general has not, in the material available to Crime Connect, personally appeared before the commission to explain the messages.

That distinction is important.

The commission’s role is to investigate allegations and establish facts through evidence. It does not itself convict people of crimes.

The meaning of the communications, the circumstances surrounding them and whether any police rules or laws were breached remain matters for further examination.

What We Know

• The Madlanga Commission is examining WhatsApp messages obtained from Bafana Sindane’s cellphone.
• Evidence presented on Monday included communications allegedly involving retired Major-General Botsotso Moukangwe.
• The messages allegedly included requests for money and sponsorship connected to Moukangwe’s farewell function.
• Later communications allegedly indicated that Flying Squad members were arranged as escorts for Sindane’s activities.
• The relevant telephone number was saved in Sindane’s phone under Moukangwe’s name.
• Chaskalson said tracing confirmed the number belonged to Moukangwe.
• Moukangwe previously served as a deputy provincial commissioner for detectives.
• Sindane is a KwaMhlanga taxi boss known as the “King of the Sky”.
• Sindane has not yet provided his own evidence explaining the material.
• No finding of wrongdoing has been made against Moukangwe based on these communications.

The Big Question

What was the nature of the relationship between senior police officials and taxi-industry figures such as Sindane — and where, if anywhere, did legitimate police assistance end and improper influence begin?

That is one of the questions the commission will have to answer through the evidence.

What Happens Next

The commission is expected to continue examining the communications found on Sindane’s phone, including messages involving police officers and taxi-industry figures.

Sindane’s own testimony could provide an opportunity for the commission to put the messages directly to him and seek explanations about the identities of the people involved, the purpose of the communications and any arrangements referred to in them.

Further witnesses and documentary evidence may also help establish whether the relationships revealed in the messages were isolated interactions or part of a wider pattern.

Until those questions are tested through evidence, the allegations remain unproven.

Featured image caption

Retired Major-General Botsotso Moukangwe and taxi boss Oupa “Bafana” Sindane. WhatsApp messages allegedly exchanged between the two were examined at the Madlanga Commission on Monday.

Article information

Category: Crime / Madlanga Commission
Location: Pretoria, Gauteng
Key figures: Botsotso Moukangwe; Oupa “Bafana” Sindane; Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC
Evidence: WhatsApp communications from Sindane’s cellphone
Status: Evidence being examined by the commission

Legal note

The allegations and interpretations of WhatsApp communications reported in this article are based on evidence presented before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. No finding of criminal or other wrongdoing has been made against Major-General Botsotso Moukangwe on the basis of this material. Sindane also remains presumed innocent of criminal allegations against him unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.