Suspended crime Intel head, Maj-Gen. Richard Shibiri, testified at the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL News
Suspended SAPS Crime Intelligence Head Richard Shibiri has accused elements within the service of potentially rewarding officers who testified against him with promotions, saying he believes some career advancement may have been used as an incentive to secure damaging evidence.
Shibiri said he had noticed that one of the commission’s witnesses, Witness A, had recently been promoted after testifying against him.
“I have since noted from supplementary witness statements submitted by Witness A that he presently holds the rank of Warrant Officer,” Shibiri told the commission.
“It appears that until as recently as 3 March 2026, Witness A held the rank of Sergeant.”
He added that the officer had since been promoted but stressed he was not opposed to legitimate career progression within the SAPS.
“I wish to state clearly that I do not begrudge any member of South Africa’s Police Service legitimate career progression,” he said.
Witness A testified in 2025 that Shibiri allegedly attempted to derail the investigation into the murder of engineer Armand Swart in Vereeniging by offering bribes to investigators working on the case.
Swart had worked for a company that exposed corruption linked to a Transnet tender allegedly involving suspected cartel figure Katiso “KT” Molefe.
Molefe was later arrested for allegedly orchestrating Swart’s killing.
Shibiri on Wednesday also told the commission that he possesses a signed affidavit from Sergeant Daniel Motaung, who claims he was promised a promotion in exchange for providing damaging information about Shibiri.
“My intention in placing these facts is not to cast aspersions upon any individual,” Shibiri said.
“It is simply to ensure that the commission has the benefit of all relevant circumstances when evaluating the evidence before it.”
The allegations come amid broader claims of factional battles within the upper ranks of the SAPS.
Two rival camps have been described during testimony — one linked to National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola and another aligned with his deputy, Shadrack Sibiya.
WhatsApp messages presented to the commission show Shibiri sharing news articles critical of officers believed to be aligned with Masemola with a colleague, Sergeant Fannie Nkosi.
Shibiri rejected claims that he belonged to any internal faction.
“For the 38 years I had in the police, I never belonged to any faction,” he said. “And I will not belong to one now as I approach the end of my career.”
Proceedings at the Madlanga Commission are continuing.
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