Suspended SAPS head for organised crime unit Major-General Richard Shibiri testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry about his relationship with alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL News
Suspended SAPS head for the Organised Crime Unit, Major-General Richard Shibiri, testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday that despite his involvement in the investigation into whistle-blower Barbita Deokaran's death — linked to the Tembisa Hospital tender scandal — he was unaware that alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala was involved with those implicated in the multimillion-rand tender corruption.
Shibiri's claim that he did not know about Matlala's involvement in the tender scandal was contradicted by his own statement, where he mentioned being interested in current news, leading commissioners to question his credibility.
Evidence leader Advocate Thabang Pooe confronted Shibiri with the fact that Matlala, whom Shibiri described as a friend, had been the subject of an ongoing police criminal investigation from 2000 to 2024.
Pooe intended to challenge Shibiri's assertion that he was unaware of Matlala's alleged involvement in criminal activities, given their friendship since 2016.
She suggested that a simple search by Shibiri would have revealed Matlala's extensive history of investigations, arrests, and a conviction.
"You will also recall that in 2021 and 2022, what was in the public domain was that he was implicated in that Tembisa scandal," she said.
Shibiri explained that while Matlala was an accused in several cases, he was only arrested in three and convicted in one.
Shibiri questioned the relevance of Matlala's past cases, highlighting that many were withdrawn or resulted in one acquittal, and argued that this would not have necessarily informed him about Matlala's character during their friendship.
"I hear about the things of the Tembisa scandal in 2023. Those things I saw them last year when they started coming up, and in 2024. I saw on the Khawula thing (social media commentator Musa Khawula's blog) talking about Deokaran, Tembisa (hospital), and also the Tembisa fraud (being) under investigation by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC)," he said.
Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga highlighted that part of what was reported in the news was that Matlala was implicated in the Tembisa Hospital scandal and that he had benefited from R5 million.
He also mentioned that Deokaran's murder was linked to her uncovering information related to the hospital tender scandal.
Shibiri said: "I knew for sure that we arrested the suspects of the murder, and I knew the issue of the burning of the hospital... I was involved in arresting the suspects, and he (Matlala) was not part of it."
Madlanga said: "I find it difficult to believe, and my reason is this: Your affidavit or statement before us is replete with references to your interest in current affairs... But suddenly you don't know anything about the news that implicated Matlala about that contract about which the news had broken. I find it difficult to believe what you are saying."
Shibiri said: "When the murder of Deokaran happened, I was in Gauteng and had a full report, and I was part of assisting the Hawks. We formed a multidisciplinary team, and we arrested the suspects. At the time, it was said it was about the R200 million Tembisa tender. I was not aware that there was a name - Matlala."
Earlier, he stated that he would not accept a loan from a criminal or alleged criminal but backtracked when confronted with evidence that he had accepted R70,000 from Matlala after allegedly knowing about his involvement in crime.
Madlanga said: "I suggest to you that once there were these (police) raids (at Matlala's home and business premises), you saw that the police were closing in on Matlala and decided that money paid to you - not as a loan - you should now suddenly pay it back to Matlala so that it looks like a loan."
Shibiri dismissed Madlanga's assertion, saying it was incorrect and denying the money was a bribe. He testified that he has since repaid it.
Madlanga said: "I asked: Would you ask for a loan from a criminal or an alleged criminal and you said you would not do so? How does that square up with the answer you gave earlier."
Shibiri said: "Commissioner, you always corner me... even though that allegation was not a police allegation. It was an allegation from the newspapers of which even today, he is not yet charged for it, but I agree."
Shibiri's testimony will resume on Thursday.