By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that the suspended deputy commissioner Shadrack Sibiya instructed Vusimuzi Matlala to open a false case of theft against members of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System is chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
In his testimony on Wednesday, Khumalo told Advocate Adila Hassim SC, the commission’s evidence leader, that on December 6, 2024, police went to the Centurion, Pretoria, house of Matlala to search for kidnapped Pretoria businessman Jerry Boshoga.
Khumalo said after the search and questioning operation at Matlala’s house, police confiscated his five firearms and two iPhone cellphones.
He said Matlala filed an urgent application in the Pretoria High Court to demand the return of items. He was referring to items that police confiscated from him.
“Matlala said police took five of his firearms, two iPhone cellphones, one MacBook, one Rolex watch, and a lady’s watch. He said police stole his watches. It is not true that the police took Matlala’s MacBook, Rolex watch, and the lady’s watch. Police only confiscated his firearms and cellphones. The firearms were taken because the way they were placed in Matlala’s home contravened the Firearms Control Act,” said Khumalo.
He said the matter sat on December 24 2024. The judge in the matter dismissed Matlala’s application due to lack of urgency.
Khumalo said following this, Matlala told police that he is withdrawing his application against the police.
He said a day before the matter sat at the Pretoria High Court, he met former police minister Bheki Cele in Pretoria. Cele told him about a conversation he had with Matlala.
“He [Cele] said Matlala told him that General Sibiya told him to file an affidavit and open a false case against myself and my [SAPS] members that we stole Matlala’s watches and MacBook during the search operation at his house.
“Cele said Matlala told him that the items [watches and MacBook] were not stolen or taken. And that he is still wearing the Rolex watch that was allegedly taken. Matlala told Cele that Sibiya forced him to file the High Court affidavit stating that police stole his watches and MacBook…,” said Khumalo.
Khumalo also inferred that the disbandment of the PKTT was politically timed, referring to “the activities of December”, a period marked by high-profile arrests, tenders under investigation, and growing tensions between factions within the police service.
He told the commission that on 22 January this year, he submitted a 27-page report to Senzo Mchunu detailing the PKTT’s operations, finances, and legal framework, but said the report was never acknowledged.