A Cape Town court has denied bail to seven people accused of running an organised extortion syndicate that targeted long-distance bus operators travelling between the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
The group faces 156 charges including racketeering, extortion, money laundering, kidnapping and intimidation in what the National Prosecuting Authority describes as a coordinated criminal enterprise that has threatened public transport services for more than five years.
Bonke Makalala, Simphiwe Mtshala, Mzuvukile Mbiyo, Siyanda Dyantyti, Gwendoline Mazele (the only woman in the group), Siphelele Kwaza and Simphiwe Gxumayo appeared before Magistrate Reaz Khan, who ruled that releasing them would pose a risk to witnesses and undermine public confidence in the justice system.
Makalala did not apply for bail. His six co-accused argued their release would be in the interests of justice, claiming they would not endanger public safety or evade trial. They pointed to their fixed addresses, family ties and business interests, with most involved in the taxi industry and Mazele operating a funeral business.
However, NPA regional communications manager Eric Ntabazalila said the State presented compelling evidence of a sustained criminal operation.
“The investigation uncovered a coordinated racketeering enterprise involving taxi owners and members of taxi associations who systematically targeted long-distance bus companies,” Ntabazalila said.
“More than 150 incidents of violence and intimidation involving Intercape buses alone have been recorded since January 2021.”
The State alleges the group demanded protection fees from bus operators including Intercape, Eagle Liner, Greyhound/Aldo Coaches, Chilwans Transport, Vila Mora/Intercity and Williams Transport in exchange for allowing buses to operate safely on routes shared with taxi operators.
Senior State Advocate Nico Breyl told the court the accused enforced compliance through threats, intimidation and violence, disrupting operations through attacks on buses and threats directed at passengers.
The investigation, conducted under Project Tsitsikama by Warrant Officer J.C. September, allegedly linked the accused to taxi associations including CATA, CODETA, UNCEDO and the Natal Spruit Taxi Association. The group allegedly laundered proceeds through third-party bank accounts.
One of the accused, Dyantyti, has a previous conviction for contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act and faces pending charges in the Mthatha Regional Court including robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearms. Two warrants for his arrest were issued in March.
Ntabazalila said the State’s case was exceptionally strong.
“The evidence includes complainant affidavits, corroborating witness statements, financial and banking records, communication evidence, records of coordinated meetings, and information obtained from the Financial Intelligence Centre and the South African Revenue Service,” he said.
“This points to a sustained and coordinated pattern of organised criminal conduct rather than isolated incidents.”
Advocate Breyl argued that taxi-related violence and extortion have become matters of national concern, constituting organised criminal conduct that threatens public transport services and essential infrastructure.
The accused maintained the State’s case was weak but presented no evidence to rebut the allegations, relying primarily on the presumption of innocence.
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Magistrate Khan found the accused had failed to discharge the onus of demonstrating that their release would be in the interests of justice. He noted that many allegedly communicated directly with complainants and were aware of their identities and business operations, with some alleged acts of intimidation occurring at bus depots.
“The court found there was a likelihood that the accused would intimidate witnesses if released,” Ntabazalila said.
The accused were arrested between 27 and 29 March. They initially challenged the validity of the centralisation certificate and sought to have the matter struck from the roll, but Advocate Breyl successfully opposed the application.
The matter was postponed to 20 July to allow the State to finalise its financial investigations and apply for a Prevention of Organised Crime Act certificate.
The charges also include contraventions of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, interference with essential infrastructure and failure to submit tax returns in contravention of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011.
