A sitting Member of Parliament is alleged to have directly phoned an extortion complainant on Tuesday evening in an attempt to persuade him to drop a R2.2-million case against one of Mpumalanga’s most influential taxi operators.
The call, reportedly made by MK Party MP David Skosana, has caused serious concern within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and sparked questions about possible witness interference at the highest levels of South African politics.
According to sources, Skosana contacted the complainant and urged him to withdraw the charges against taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and his three co-accused — Daniel Masilela, Philemon Msiza, and Oupa Sindane.
The four men are facing serious extortion charges involving a R2.2-million demand. Sources claim Skosana allegedly offered the complainant a “handsome reward” if he abandoned the case. The complainant’s identity is being protected for his safety.
The NPA has confirmed it is aware of the alleged interference and has raised the matter internally. “Any attempt to influence a state witness is a criminal offence and will be treated with the full seriousness of the law,” an NPA spokesperson said. The Hawks, who are investigating the original extortion case, had not confirmed by the time of publication whether a formal probe into Skosana’s alleged conduct had been launched.
The extortion case against Sibanyoni and his associates has been progressing slowly through the courts for several months. Sibanyoni, a prominent figure in the Mpumalanga taxi industry, and his co-accused have all denied any wrongdoing. The matter has drawn significant public interest due to the large sum involved and the influence of those implicated.
Those familiar with the situation were particularly struck by the complainant’s reported reaction: after the call, he reportedly sat alone in a darkened room for a long time, phone still in hand, unsure of what to do next. He eventually chose to report the incident. That decision could now shape the future of the entire prosecution.
Skosana has not issued any public comment on the allegations. It remains unclear whether Parliament’s ethics committee will act or if the NPA will pursue charges of witness tampering against him.
The key question now is whether the justice system will adequately protect the complainant for coming forward — especially if a sitting MP can allegedly call an extortion witness and offer incentives to drop charges.