By Johnathan Paoli
Explosive new testimony before the Madlanga Commission has cast further light on the alleged criminal relationship between businessman Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala and suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
Witness C, testifying remotely for security reasons, returned to the stand on Thursday morning to complete his evidence under the leadership of senior counsels Advocate Ofentse Motlhasedi and Advocate Mahlape Sello.
“According to what he told us, Sibiya only accepted cash, never transfers. He said he would drop money off himself at Sibiya’s home or at another gated property in Sandton,” Witness C testified.
The witness, a member of the task team investigating Matlala’s alleged crimes – which include charges of attempted murder for the failed hit on a former lover – said that the businessman frequently boasted about his connections to high-ranking police and political figures, particularly Sibiya.
Witness C said Matlala claimed to have first met Sibiya years earlier through his work providing private security at the farm of Jothan Msibi, a now-deceased businessman and alleged underworld figure. The two reportedly became close after Msibi’s death in 2014.
“Matlala told us that Sibiya approached him after Msibi passed away and told him, ‘Take care of me, and I will take care of you’. That was the beginning of their arrangement,” Witness C said.
According to the witness, Matlala also spoke of a group Msibi called the “Big 5”, described as an informal network of powerful men who controlled access to lucrative government contracts, which operated across SAPS and other state departments.
“He said it’s a criminal world that has more control over the government than the government itself,” Witness C added.
Witness C detailed several alleged cash transactions between the pair, painting a picture of a long-term corrupt relationship.
Matlala allegedly said that after every SAPS payment to his companies, he would deliver large sums to Sibiya, sometimes up to R500 000 or even R1 million at a time.
He told the commission that Matlala also mentioned paying Sibiya R300 000 as a wedding gift for his son and later handing over R2 million in January this year to buy a Midrand property intended for a bed-and-breakfast venture.
“He told us that Sibiya loved money. Once, when trying to get access to a police clinic, he said Sibiya told him to place money inside a dustbin for him to collect later,” he said.
Matlala allegedly also gifted Sibiya 20 impala buck for his property, which later died, prompting a grim joke from the witness that “maybe the animals didn’t like Sibiya”.
The witness further testified that Matlala identified “Sergeant F. Nkosi”, stationed at SAPS headquarters under Sibiya’s command, as the intermediary who facilitated the transfer of bribes.
“He said Nkosi was the one who would collect the cash and hand it over to Sibiya. At times, Matlala even gave Nkosi a bank card linked to his account,” Witness C said.
Nkosi allegedly maintained both Absa and FNB business accounts that were used for money transfers.
The same officer, Witness C added, was accused of tipping off Matlala before the 6 December 2024 police raid on his house, when authorities were searching for kidnapped businessman Jerry Boshoga.
The relationship, according to the witness, eventually soured as investigations into Matlala’s activities intensified.
Despite his alleged financial support, Matlala told police he became frustrated that Sibiya was no longer able to protect him from criminal scrutiny.
“He referred to Sibiya as ‘the pitbull’. He said that for his safety, he would play along with him. If Sibiya ever found out that he had changed sides, his life would be in danger,” Witness C recalled.
The witness emphasised that there was no direct proof of the alleged cash handovers, as Sibiya refused any bank transfers, and Matlala’s statements were largely verbal admissions captured during police interactions and later supported by audio recordings provided to the commission.
Throughout his testimony, Witness C reiterated that Matlala’s dealings with Sibiya were part of a broader web linking politicians, senior officers, and criminal intermediaries.
The same tender that allegedly generated kickbacks to Sibiya, a R360 million SAPS health services contract, was cancelled earlier this year by National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, who ruled that the winning bid should never have passed the initial evaluation stage.
Witness C also said that Matlala admitted to financing former Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s ANC presidential campaign and maintaining ties with fixer Brown Mogotsi, Hawks KZN head Maj-Gen. Lesetja Senona, and other SAPS figures under investigation.
Witness C’s testimony continues.
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