Madlanga Commission | Matlala’s testimony on Sibiya raises fresh questions

Alleged underworld figure, Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, has admitted that he misled Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee about attending the engagement party of former SAPS Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya’s son.

Matlala also faced fresh questions about his relationship with Sibiya at the Madlanga Commission, distancing himself from claims that he knowingly gifted the police official 20 impalas and denying allegations that he made a second R500 000 payment.

Matlala previously told Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee that he had only gone to the engagement party to fetch his wife, who was too intoxicated to drive home.

However, before the commission, Matlala admitted that he had attended the event with his wife and stayed for at least two hours.

He said his relationship with Sibiya developed after he handed the police official R50 000 at the SAPS Excellence Awards in Durban. Matlala testified that Sibiya later invited him to the engagement party.

Matlala also named several high-ranking police officials who were present, including former SAPS College head, Sandra Malebe-Thema, Lieutenant-General, Hilda Senthumule, Major-General, Richard Shibiri and former intelligence operative, Robert McBride.

His latest account contradicts his earlier version before the Ad Hoc Committee, which also aligned with Sibiya’s testimony at the Madlanga Commission.

Matlala has since admitted that he misled the parliamentary committee.

Matlala also distanced himself from claims that he knowingly gifted Sibiya 20 impalas, saying he was unaware that the animals were destined for the former police official’s farm.

The commission heard that former SAPS Sergeant Fannie Nkosi allegedly visited Matlala’s farm in Limpopo on 21 March 2024 and relayed a request from a friend for impalas.

Matlala agreed to cover the transportation costs but said he did not know who the animals were being delivered to.

The commission was also presented with a voice note from a person identified as ‘Rudy Farm Manager’, who requested a pin-drop location for the delivery. Matlala forwarded the message to Nkosi, who has been described as an alleged go-between.

Matlala said he only later learnt that the impalas had been taken to Sibiya’s farm. The commission heard that the animals gradually died after arriving at the property.

During his testimony, Matlala said he was stunned when controversial North West businessman, Brown Mogotsi, told the commission that he had given impalas to Sibiya. He claims he even confronted Mogotsi about the allegations.

Matlala has also denied allegations that Sibiya demanded a second R500 000 payment from him after receiving an initial amount.

He accused IDAC investigators, Brian Padayachee, Dylan Perumal and Suneel Bellochun of fabricating the allegations and inserting them into his Section 204 statement during failed plea negotiations in July.

Matlala claimed he was pressured into initialling and signing the statement without fully understanding its contents.

The commission questioned him about the allegations after audio recordings of Witness A and Witness B were played during his virtual testimony. The recordings captured Matlala during an interrogation following his arrest, discussing money allegedly given to Sibiya.

Matlala maintained that the initial R500 000 was intended to assist with Sibiya’s son’s wedding. He also invoked his right against self-incrimination when questioned about a passage in his statement.

“I’m speaking about the first sentence on paragraph 57. I’m saying I do not want to comment on it because I do not want to incriminate myself. It is inconsistent with my testimony because I only paid the first R500 000,” Matlala said.

Proceedings also became tense after Matlala requested that his testimony relating to Sibiya be heard behind closed doors, citing fears for his safety and that of his family.

Meanwhile, his lawyer, Advocate Anneline van den Heever, accused evidence leaders Adila Hassim and Mahlape Sello of holding undisclosed consultations with Matlala at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in August, without his legal team being present.

Van den Heever told the commission that Advocates Adila Hassim and Mahlape Sello visited Matlala at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in August to discuss certain issues without his legal team being present.

She said she received this information from senior commission investigator, Bongani Dlamini, who allegedly indicated that the discussions would be treated as off the record and would not be used during public proceedings.

According to van den Heever, Dlamini also compiled an affidavit following the consultations, with assurances that its contents would remain outside the commission’s public hearings.

However, the defence is now challenging the use of Dlamini’s consultation notes and affidavit to confront Matlala during cross-examination over alleged corruption and tender-rigging contradictions.

Van den Heever maintains that her legal team was excluded from the engagements and has threatened to take the witness stand under oath to contest the matter.

Advocate Sello subsequently demanded that van den Heever retract her allegations, accusing her of making flawed procedural claims.

Although van den Heever apologised, she also demanded an apology, arguing that she had been made to appear as though she was deliberately misleading the commission.