By Johnathan Paoli
Suspended Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has officially blamed National Commissioner Fannie Masemola for approving the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and to fiercely deny any improper relationship with controversial tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Being led in evidence by advocate Adila Hassim, Sibiya insisted Masemola was “fully aware” of, and involved in, the decision to disband the KwaZulu-Natal-based PKTT, rejecting suggestions that he acted unilaterally or with ulterior motives.
“I have always acted on the basis of official instructions transmitted through these channels, and, at no stage, have I acted outside or contrary to the directives communicated to me in this manner,” Sibiya said.
He said that the National Commissioner was fully aware of the disbandment of the PKTT and had instructed him to execute this disbandment in line with suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s directive.
Masemola has previously testified that he was “not satisfied” with the proposed plan to abruptly disband the unit and had preferred a phased winding-down process.
Sibiya disputed this, telling the commission that while Masemola did not sign the implementation plan, “this was not for the reasons he now advances”.
“I reiterate that the true reason is due to the fact that he regarded the implementation plan as an operational matter,” Sibiya said.
Central to Sibiya’s defence was a status report on 121 PKTT dockets, which he said demonstrated long-standing stagnation in investigations, predating any involvement by him.
“My observation of the status of the 121 dockets handed over is that many of them had not been worked on since 2019. It is therefore incorrect and mala fide to attribute any investigative delays to me, as these dockets were only under my directorate’s control for a period of three months,” he said.
He rejected claims by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that five dockets contained arrest instructions that were not executed while under his control.
“A consideration demonstrates that, contrary to General Mkhwanazi’s allegation, only four dockets contained instructions to arrest which appeared to originate from the investigating officer, and not five as alleged,” Sibiya said.
He argued that without judicially authorised warrants, arrests could not lawfully proceed, further criticising what he described as exaggerated claims about the PKTT’s effectiveness.
“These figures belie any assertion that the PKTT was functioning effectively or making meaningful investigative progress. To the contrary, they reveal a pattern of dormancy and stagnation over a prolonged period,” he said.
Turning to allegations of a close relationship with Matlala, Sibiya was unequivocal.
“I vehemently deny that I am, or have ever been, a close friend of Matlala. Any assertion to that effect is false, and no credible evidence has been produced to establish that I am friends with Matlala,” he said.
Sibiya said Matlala was “known in the SAPS because he was at that time running a hospital of the SAPS at the college” and had been awarded a healthcare contract.
He acknowledged meeting Matlala but insisted it was in an official capacity and at a time when Matlala was not facing criminal charges.
Sibiya also disavowed WhatsApp messages allegedly extracted from Matlala’s phone.
“I place on record that I was not a participant in those conversations. As is evident from the material relied upon, my name is merely mentioned; I did not form part of the messaging group or the exchanges themselves,” he said.
Sibiya also pushed back against Masemola’s previous claim that he had attempted to take control of the Cold Case Unit without authority.
Referring to a police information note, he said it showed Masemola had partially approved him being in charge.
“I was trying to account for all the dockets that are in the country,” he said, warning that poor record-keeping could result in investigations “not progressing for 15 years,” he said.
As proceedings adjourned for the day, Sibiya maintained that both the PKTT disbandment and his limited interactions with Matlala were conducted strictly within official channels and under Masemola’s authority.
The commission continues on Thursday morning.
INSIDE POLITICS