By Johnathan Paoli
Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing allegations of criminal infiltration and political interference within the SAPS ended on Thursday evening with MPs questioning Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo over the conduct of senior police officials, including suspended deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and former Gauteng organised crime head Major-General Richard Shibiri.
After the lunch break, evidence leader advocate Maria Mokhoaetsi asked Khumalo to explain why he could not fully disclose certain details.
Khumalo responded that some information related to ongoing investigations and national security concerns, but insisted that the evidence he had presented was sufficient for the committee to meet its mandate.
ANC MP Khusela Diko cautioned against what she described as the risk of “whitewashing”, pressing Khumalo on whether the information he was withholding was critical to uncovering the truth.
Khumalo rejected the suggestion, saying the undisclosed material largely related to unfinished matters dating back to the Covid-19 period and did not affect the substance of the allegations before Parliament.
ActionSA MP Doreen James sharply challenged Khumalo’s assertion that criminal cartels had deeply infiltrated SAPS structures in Gauteng.
She asked whether it was credible to suggest that “most” of the province’s police were compromised.
Khumalo replied that repeated operational leaks convinced investigators that plans were being relayed to suspects in advance, adding that highly trained SAPS members were moonlighting for criminal syndicates.
“If senior officers become the protectors of suspects, then the integrity of the entire criminal justice system collapses, and that is the danger we are confronting,” Khumalo said.
EFF leader Julius Malema then turned the spotlight onto Major-General Richard Shibiri, repeatedly asking why he had not been arrested despite allegations that he interfered in the Armand Swart murder investigation and facilitated bribes to secure bail for accused former SAPS officer Pule Tau.
Khumalo told the committee the investigation into Shibiri was at an advanced stage and nearing completion, but Malema said the explanation was unsatisfactory given the seriousness of the allegations.
Committee chairperson Soviet intervened, saying Parliament would formally write to SAPS leadership to demand clarity on Shibiri’s employment status, including whether he had been suspended or merely redeployed.
Malema pressed further, questioning why Shibiri was still “loitering in police offices” if there was credible evidence against him.
MPs also interrogated Khumalo on the role of suspended deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
MK Party MP Vusi Shongwe asked directly whether Khumalo trusted Sibiya.
Khumalo replied without hesitation that he did not, adding that Sibiya lacked integrity, credibility and the necessary leadership skills for his position.
He further suggested that Sibiya had operated as a parallel authority within SAPS, reallocating dockets without proper mandate.
ANC and MK Party MPs expressed concern that such actions could amount to defeating the ends of justice.
MKP MP Sibonelo Nomvalo said removing active dockets and allowing them to “gather dust” required urgent intervention, while ANC MPs questioned why no clear explanation had been provided for the changes in investigative teams.
DA MPs Ian Cameron and Damien Klopper focused on institutional accountability, asking what mechanisms senior officials used to shield themselves from consequences.
Khumalo responded that senior leadership often hid behind subordinate officials, a practice he said was damaging the credibility of SAPS and public trust.
MPs also questioned Khumalo on alleged interference during the arrest of Katiso “KT” Molefe and operations at Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s residence and office.
EFF MP Leigh-Ann Mathys challenged claims made by Matlala about trauma suffered by his family during the raid.
Khumalo denied any misconduct, telling the committee that Matlala’s wife had refused to make a statement alleging abuse.
Further political tension emerged when MPs questioned whether ministers had played any role in the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
Khumalo maintained that he did not disband the unit and said it was deeply painful to learn of its dissolution through media reports rather than official channels.
The committee confirmed it would resume questioning on Friday, with Malema set to lead the next round as Parliament continues to probe claims of cartel influence and senior-level interference in law enforcement.
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