The SAPS Commander, Major-General Richard Shibiri, who is currently suspended from duty, made a surprise appearance yesterday when he contradicted evidence that contradicted what he had previously presented about Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya.
Earlier, Shibiri said that there is a group of police officers working with gangs called “Big 5” but he refused to reveal the names. In yesterday’s testimony it was clear that there is a division within the police force and that it is making it difficult to investigate organized crime.
Shibiri is one of the SAPS officers who has allegedly received stolen money from a businessman who is facing a series of charges, Mr. Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. At the beginning of the week, there was an argument with him about the R70 000 given to him by Matlala, which he said he had borrowed because he was struggling with expenses. It turns out that in those days he sold luxury goods at Gucci and Louis Vuitton stores in Sandton.
What Shibiri said confirmed the allegations that SAPS officials in key positions were fed by Matlala, whose name is linked to the R360 million police tender.
This week, evidence continued to emerge that police officers were attracted to Matlala, but what is unclear is why this businessman who is considered one of the most dangerous suspects in the country was so close to people who are trusted to fight crime in the country.
It turns out that Matlala was being investigated by the unit managed by Shibiri when there was an exchange of R70 000. Shibiri told the commission that this was not money to bribe him to protect Matlala from the investigation.
What is worth noting is that he paid the money after the police raided Matlala’s house where they were conducting an investigation. Shibiri is not the only one who has received money from Matlala.
The former police minister, Mr. Bheki Cele, admitted that he once slept for two nights at Matlala’s luxury home when he was in Pretoria. Matlala said that he paid Cele R500 000, an allegation that Cele denied. Matlala said that he paid Cele this money to help him with the problems he is facing.
The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, is also accused of accepting Matlala’s money. According to the allegations, Matlala started to give Sibiya the money after receiving the R360 million tender from the police. It is said that the money used to come to Sibiya in bags.
There are allegations that Matlala bought goods for Sibiya. Sibiya denied all these allegations. Sibiya also made allegations that the acting deputy police commissioner, Lieutenant General Hilda Senthumule, benefited from Matlala.
Sibiya said Matlala paid for Lieutenant General Senthumule’s buttock toning program known as the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL). However, Lieutenant Senthumule also denied these accusations, saying that he used his own money to repair his buttocks.
Another police officer who was found to be receiving gifts from Matlala, Brigadier Rachel Matjeng. Brigadier Matjeng allowed himself to receive gifts and money from Matlala. Explaining these gifts, Brigadier Matjeng said that they were in a burning love with Matlala.
Although all the officials involved deny the allegations that they were bribed by Matlala, there is a similar smell. The task that remains for the Commission and the investigators is why the police officers are fed by the businessman who has been accused of so many criminal cases?