Pretoria – In the flashy world inhabited by taxi boss Oupa Bafana Sindane, ordinary transport has seemingly never been enough.
Known in taxi circles as the “King of the Sky”, Sindane has become associated with the sort of conspicuous wealth usually reserved for music videos: powerful cars, helicopters, celebrity company, and expensive celebrations. [madlangaco…sion.co.za], [briefly.co.za]
But the man whose public image has been built partly around luxury now finds himself attracting attention for very different reasons.
On Monday, 28 September, evidence concerning Sindane is due to be led before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry after his attempt to postpone proceedings was rejected. [madlangaco…sion.co.za], [ewn.co.za]
It is an extraordinary collision between two worlds: the champagne-and-supercar image surrounding a millionaire businessman and the austere surroundings of a judicial commission examining allegations involving criminal syndicates, the police, and the taxi industry.
The King of the Sky
The nickname tells much of the story.
The Madlanga Commission archive describes Sindane as a KwaMhlanga taxi owner known as the “King of the Sky” because of his helicopters and cars. [madlangaco…sion.co.za]
Media reports have similarly portrayed a businessman fond of making his wealth visible.
Sindane’s reported luxury vehicle collection has included Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis. [briefly.co.za]
Yet arguably nothing illustrated his appetite for extravagance better than his wedding.
A 2024 report, citing earlier reporting by SowetanLIVE, said Sindane’s 2014 wedding in Kwaggafontein cost R1.7 million and featured 30 000 roses flown in from Kenya and 10 000 orchids imported from Holland. [thesouthafrican.com]
If the cars and aircraft fed the image of the “King of the Sky”, tens of thousands of imported flowers ensured that even his big day was conducted on a grand scale.
Celebrity connections
Sindane’s private life has also spilled into entertainment headlines.
Actress and businesswoman Amanda du-Pont has repeatedly been described in media reports as his rumoured partner.
The relationship has not been established as fact, and the distinction is important. [thesouthafrican.com], [briefly.co.za]
Reports linked the pair after they travelled to Paris, where they were guests at the wedding of businessman Sisa Ngebulana and Ayanda Ngebulana.
A report said du-Pont posted and quickly removed footage of a luxury Maserati, while Sindane posted the same model on his social-media account that day. [thesouthafrican.com]
Such episodes helped propel Sindane beyond the taxi industry and into South Africa’s celebrity gossip ecosystem.
But his increasingly prominent public profile has acquired a much harder edge.
Trouble with the law
Sindane is a co-accused with fellow taxi businessman Madoda “Joe Ferrari” Sibanyoni, Mvimbi Daniel Masilela and Philemon Msiza in an extortion and money-laundering matter. [madlangaco…sion.co.za], [briefly.co.za]
The allegations centre on claims that a mining businessman in Mpumalanga’s Nkangala district was forced to pay more than R2 million in protection money between 2022 and 2025.
Sindane handed himself over at Kwaggafontein police station and was subsequently released on bail. The allegations remain subject to the criminal process. [madlangaco…sion.co.za]
Then came the Madlanga Commission.
Sindane was due to testify on Wednesday, 23 September, but did not take the witness chair. His lawyers produced a medical certificate and sought a postponement. [thestar.co.za], [citizen.co.za]
His legal battle also extends to potentially explosive material taken from his cellphone.
Sindane has approached the High Court in Pretoria seeking to stop the commission from using his WhatsApp messages and challenging the subpoena compelling him to appear. That court application is scheduled for 6 October. [thestar.co.za], [citizen.co.za]
Messages between Sindane and Sibanyoni are expected to receive particular attention.
Some exchanges have involved references to “hitmen”, although Sibanyoni told the commission that people at taxi ranks colloquially refer to protectors as “izinkabi”. [ewn.co.za]
The commission is also expected to examine Sindane’s apparent relationships with alleged cartel members and police officers, including suspended Sergeant Fannie Nkosi. [ewn.co.za]
An empty chair
For all the expensive machinery associated with the “King of the Sky”, one image from this week was striking precisely because of what was missing.
It was an empty chair.
Sindane’s lawyers cited his health and an urgent court challenge in seeking to delay proceedings. A further argument concerning spiritual seclusion was also raised, but commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga questioned it because it was absent from Sindane’s founding affidavit. [citizen.co.za]
The postponement application ultimately failed.
The commission ordered that evidence “of or concerning” Sindane be led on Monday, 28 September, “in whatever format”. [madlangaco…sion.co.za]
So the next chapter in the colourful story of the “King of the Sky” may unfold far removed from helicopters, Lamborghinis and imported flowers.
This time, the spotlight will come from a commission of inquiry.
DISCLAIMER: This article was compiled using the AI tool Co-pilot and may contain inaccuracies
