By Johnathan Paoli
Suspended SAPS Organised Crime head Major-General Richard Shibiri spent a dramatic week before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, forcefully rejecting allegations that he interfered in criminal investigations while accusing rival police factions of orchestrating a campaign to destroy his reputation.
Over days of testimony and cross-examination, Shibiri portrayed himself as a veteran officer caught in the middle of internal battles within the SAPS, insisting that claims linking him to organised crime networks were false.
“I have never interfered in any investigation, and I have never protected criminals. My conscience is clear,” Shibiri told the commission.
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A central focus of the hearings was Shibiri’s relationship with controversial businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, who has been repeatedly linked to underworld networks.
Shibiri confirmed that Matlala had loaned him R70,000, saying the money was used to repair his son’s damaged vehicle and was repaid in full several months later.
“I borrowed money from Mr. Matlala because I was in a difficult position at the time. The loan was repaid. There was nothing irregular about it,” he said.
He maintained that their relationship was purely social and denied ever discussing police operations with the businessman.
“I never spoke to Matlala about police investigations. When I spoke to him, he never told me about any operation that had happened to him,” Shibiri said.
However, evidence leader advocate Lee Seegels-Ncube questioned why a senior organised crime investigator would maintain contact with a man under investigation without the issue ever arising in conversation.
Bank records presented to the commission showed that Shibiri had more than R50,000 in his account at the time he accepted the loan, prompting further questions about why he needed the money.
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“I decide how I want to use my money. It’s not about what you have there. I decided to say I wanted to make a wall and then I can get another money to do that because I know in December I will get more than R100k for my bonus,” he said.
Commission chair and former Con Court justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga also questioned the timing of the repayment, which came shortly after police raided Matlala’s home.
“You saw that the police were catching on to Mr Matlala, and you decided that money that had been paid to you, not as a loan, I suggest, you should now suddenly pay back to Mr Matlala so as to make it look like a loan,” Madlanga said.
Shibiri rejected the suggestion, describing it as incorrect.
“If I wanted Matlala to give me money so that it’s not a loan, I would’ve preferred he give me cash so there wouldn’t be a trail,” he said.
Another contentious aspect of the hearings involved recorded phone conversations between Shibiri and a protected witness known as Witness A.
During the recordings, the witness allegedly accused Shibiri of attempting to influence investigations involving underworld figures, including a murder probe connected to the killing of engineer Armand Swart in Vereeniging.
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Swart had worked for a company that exposed corruption linked to a Transnet tender allegedly involving suspected businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe.
Shibiri denied any wrongdoing, saying he did not attempt any influence in the investigation.
The embattled general was suspended from the SAPS after testimony suggested he may have been on the payroll of alleged crime bosses, an allegation he has repeatedly denied.
In a dramatic counter-attack, Shibiri alleged that officers who testified against him may have been rewarded with promotions.
He pointed to the recent promotion of Witness A from sergeant to warrant officer after giving evidence.
He stressed that he did not oppose legitimate career advancement but believed the commission should consider the broader context.
Shibiri also told the commission he possessed an affidavit from Sergeant Daniel Motaung claiming he had been promised a promotion in exchange for providing damaging information.
“My intention in placing these facts is not to cast aspersions upon any individual. It is simply to ensure that the commission has the benefit of all relevant circumstances when evaluating the evidence before it,” Shibiri said.
The hearings also examined alleged factional battles within the upper ranks of the police service, including rival camps linked to national police commissioner Fannie Masemola and his deputy Shadrack Sibiya.
Shibiri denied belonging to any faction.
“For the 38 years I had in the police, I never belonged to any faction. And I will not belong to one now as I approach the end of my career,” he said.
Although he acknowledged attending gatherings at suspended Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya’s home, he said these were social or professional engagements rather than evidence of political alignment.
Meanwhile, the Madlanga Commission has been granted additional time to complete its work.
President Cyril Ramaphosa approved a five-month extension, moving the deadline for the commission’s final report from March to 31 August.
Proceedings at the Madlanga Commission are continuing, with further witnesses expected to testify in the coming weeks as the inquiry probes allegations of deep-seated corruption and criminal infiltration within South Africa’s law-enforcement institutions.
