Major-General Richard Shibiri, the suspended head of the SAPS Organised Crime Unit, justifies his R70,000 loan from alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala to fix his son’s car despite that he had enough funds in his bank account.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Major-General Richard Shibiri, the suspended head of the SAPS Organised Crime Unit, had no need to borrow R70,000 from alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, given that he and his son collectively had over R105,000.
Commissioners at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry put this proposition to Shibiri on Thursday following his testimony that he took a R70,000 loan from Matlala to repair his son's vehicle and denied it was a bribe.
However, on Thursday, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga highlighted that Shibiri had far more funds in his bank account than needed to repair his son's car in 2024, contradicting his reason for borrowing from Matlala.
"You had a R50,000 credit in your account and an overdraft facility of R44,000 in your bank account," Madlanga said.
He stated that Shibiri basically did not need Matlala's money as he had a total of R94,000 in his account, and his son had over R11,364, totalling more than R105,000 – far exceeding the R55,000 car repair quote they had.
Shibiri claimed that his understanding was that the R50,000 was inclusive of overdraft facility.
He also justified the loan by citing plans to build a wall at home, renovate his father's tombstone in March 2025, and host a thanksgiving ceremony in Limpopo as reasons for needing the funds.
He said he spent R14,000 on beverages for the thanksgiving ceremony, stating that the amount would not show on his bank statements but would be on his credit account.
However, when presented with his credit account statement, which did not show the transaction, Shibiri apologised to the commission for his earlier impression, clarifying that the beverages were actually paid for with cash contributed by relatives.
Madlanga challenged Shibiri, suggesting he chose the "convenience of borrowing" from someone implicated in criminality instead of using over R50,000 of his own funds, which would have remained after covering the R55,000 car repair.
Shibiri said: "My response is this... I saw it convenient for me to use the loan and repay it, and use the other money for what I intended to irrespective of somebody saying it is convenient or not, that was my thinking that I will be able to pay it sooner and this was easier for me."
He said the worst thing he accepts is that he chose to take a loan from a seriously implicated person. "That is the only thing I am taking home."
He said he, however, accepted the point with a grain of salt as Matlala was not charged in relation to those allegations at the time.
"But I am not sorry for my decision. I took a decision as a man who was thinking in that particular way at that time," he said.
Madlanga expressed concern that Shibiri, as a senior officer and general, seemed to think he was justified in taking a loan from Matlala simply because Matlala had not been charged at the time.
Shibiri explained he was not condoning police officers being involved with people implicated in crime.
He argued that it was unfair for the commission to single him out for a perceived wrongdoing by borrowing money from someone with allegations, saying society is full of people with allegations against them who are still holding office.
"I can even quote ministers who are serving with convictions and so forth. Does this apply only to me in the eyes of the commission?" he said.
Co-commissioner Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC interjected, stating that Shibiri did not need a R70,000 loan immediately because he and his son received their salaries 12 days after September 18, 2024, significantly improving their financial prospects.
Khumalo highlighted that since some car parts were purchased in October, there was no real urgency to get a loan from Matlala because he would have his salary by the time he needed to buy new parts.
"Sitting here, we don't see why you needed a loan from Matlala because there was no urgent need for a loan," he said.
Khumalo also pointed out that Shibiri's bank statements showed he did not need to sell cattle for R20,000 to pay part of the loan, having splurged R19,000 on Gucci sneakers and R3,000 on a Louis Vuitton wallet in Sandton.
Shibiri's testimony continues.