By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Suspended organised crime unit head Richard Shibiri returned to the witness stand at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry at the Bridgette Mabandla Justice College on Wednesday.
Shibiri was suspended in February 2025, along with several police officials. He is accused of having ties with underworld kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and is suspected to have been on his payroll.
Matlala, who faces attempted murder charges and previously received a R360-million police tender, is a central figure in the Madlanga Commission probe into alleged political interference and corruption within the criminal justice system, owing to his reported links to senior police officials, including sidelined police minister Senzo Mchunu.
During the proceedings, Shibiri denied any interest in Matlala’s R360 million contract with the Saps, saying that the advice he provided to him was from a police officer to a citizen.
Last year, the SAPS awarded a company of Matlala’s, Medicare 24 Tshwane District (Pty) Ltd, a R360-million contract. It was later cancelled.
While he gave Matlala “personal advice”, he said, “I saw nothing improper providing general advice. I did not represent in any official legal capacity nor intervened in any investigation or process on his behalf.
In his original statement, he gave the impression that there was minimal communication between them.
However, the commissioners argued that the several calls between them and an R70 000 ‘loan’ he received from Matlala crossed the boundary of police officer and citizen.
Shibiri insisted his conversations with Matlala were innocent.
“Yes, I testified previously that around January, I got some information that my name was used by him somewhere, and then I phoned him to say we must only talk about which is work related, and I don’t remember myself phoning him unless it was something which I wanted to ask in relation to work, and I can’t remember why I made these calls,” explained Shibiri.
“Yes, we were in contact, but not frequently. And everybody who is a victim must be helped by the South African police. So, irrespective of his standing in the community, if you are a victim, you are a victim. I’m a police officer, and I assist everybody.”
He further told the inquiry that at the time of whistle-blower, Babita Deokoran’s murder, he was assisting Hawks investigators in Gauteng and was unaware that Matlala’s name had been linked to the Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal.
Shibiri said his demanding workload and health challenges meant he was not closely following developments in the media.
Shibiri insisted his relationship with Matlala was strictly professional, denying that any sensitive SAPS information was shared or that the association compromised investigations.
In addition, the commission scrutinised WhatsApp exchanges between Shibiri and Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, which appeared to show instances of personal assistance.
Counsel suggested these interactions reflected personal favours, contradicting Shibiri’s earlier testimony that his relationship with Nkosi was largely professional and that they seldom interacted on a personal level.
The messages presented before the commission also showed, in one instance, Shibiri expressing concern for Nkosi’s safety after they had both attended an event where Nkosi had arrived on a motorbike.
In another exchange, Nkosi was seen assisting Shibiri in sourcing training shoes, with images of various options shared between them. The commission also heard that Nkosi helped Shibiri search for a dog after he expressed interest in getting one.