By Johnathan Paoli
Suspended SAPS Organised Crime head Major-General Richard Shibiri has maintained that his relationship with alleged criminal businessman Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala was that of a long-standing acquaintance who once assisted him with a personal loan and not a corrupt alliance.
Resuming his testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry after lunch, Shibiri testified on his ties to Matlala whom he had known for years.
“I have known Mr Vusi Cat Matlala as a businessman for several years. I met him in a social setting through a friend of mine who had previously served as a police officer and who was at that time an acquaintance of Matlala,” Shibiri said.
They lost contact and reconnected in 2019 when Shibiri and another officer visited Matlala regarding “a person of interest who was the subject of an investigation”.
“Information available was that Mr Matlala was providing VIP security service to this particular individual. It was at this occasion that we established contact and exchanged cell phone numbers,” he said.
Shibiri told the commission that his impression of Matlala was that he was “reserved in nature” and that their interactions were “limited and informal”.
“Since then, Mr Matlala would occasionally seek advice regarding personal issues affecting him. I saw nothing improper in providing general advice. I did not represent him in my official legal capacity, nor did I intervene in any investigation process on his behalf,” he said.
Central to the allegations is an estimated R80,000 that Shibiri is accused of receiving from Matlala.
The suspended component head confirmed that Matlala had advanced him money in September 2024 after his son was involved in a car accident.
“On the 6th September 2024, my son was involved in a motor vehicle accident. The vehicle sustained damage and following engagement with the insurer, the insurer’s claim was repudiated. This placed me under unexpected financial pressure in order to effect the repairs of the car,” he said.
He testified that he met Matlala again on 14 September 2024 at Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya’s son’s engagement party in Centurion.
“After the formalities were concluded, we had a casual conversation which led to the issue of him loaning me money for the purpose of vehicle repairs. Approximately four days later, Mr Matlala contacted me to inquire whether I had managed to raise the required funds. I informed him that I had not yet succeeded. We then agreed that he would advance me a personal loan by depositing the money directly into my son’s bank account,” Shibiri said.
He said it was “expressly agreed” that the loan would be repaid in December 2024 after he had sold livestock and accessed savings.
Shibiri told the commission he repaid R20,000 in cash from a cattle sale and later transferred R50,000 electronically.
“There was no quid pro quo attachment to this financial assistance. I did not provide any operational favour, investigative intervention, strategic information or procurement influence, preferential treatment of any nature. The financial assistance arose from a personal emergency, and I paid as agreed,” he insisted.
The commission also examined WhatsApp exchanges involving Shibiri, Matlala and Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, in which Shibiri appeared to warn blogger Musa Khawula not to publish allegations about Matlala.
One message presented to the commission read: “Chommie don’t run the story. He’s a good guy. He never bothers anyone, and he lives a private life.”
Shibiri denied authoring that message, claiming Matlala had forwarded him a screenshot of an unknown person communicating with Khawula.
“I don’t use the name chommie,” Shibiri said.
He confirmed advising Matlala to open a criminal case if he believed he was being extorted.
“My communication with Nkosi was solely driven by a desire to assist someone in opening a case,” he said.
While not going into further detail, Shibiri maintained the innocent nature of his relationship with Matlala.
“Our relationship has been that of acquaintances who met through a mutual friend. It was not a business partnership, not a financial arrangement, not an operational alliance,” he said.
Proceedings continue.
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