By Mapaballo Borotho
- The Madlanga Commission questioned Shadrack Sibiya’s version of events regarding Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s attendance at his son’s engagement party.
- Sibiya denied receiving 20 impalas from Matlala, despite testimony and voice note evidence presented by Witness F.
- He also rejected claims that he instructed the sharing of Musa Khawula’s arrest warrant with Matlala’s security company.
The Madlanga Commission has challenged the testimony of suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya over how alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala came to attend his son’s engagement party in 2024.
Appearing before the commission for a fifth day on Tuesday, Sibiya was again questioned about why he invited Matlala to the event.
He told the commission that he had asked Matlala to collect his wife, who he claimed was under the influence of alcohol and unable to drive herself home.
However, evidence presented before the commission suggests that several guests were aware earlier that Matlala would be attending the party.
Sibiya was also asked why police General Rechard Shibiri, who was present at the event, wanted to know in advance when Matlala would be arriving.
Consistent denials
Since his first appearance, Sibiya has repeatedly denied having a close relationship with Matlala and rejected claims that he received any benefits from him. But evidence before the commission suggests Matlala allegedly bought 20 impalas for Sibiya in March 2024.
The impalas saga first emerged during testimony by Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, referred to as Witness F.
Nkosi presented evidence of a voice note allegedly sent by Matlala via a third party requesting a location pin for where the impalas were to be delivered.
This week, Sibiya remained adamant that he had never received impalas from Matlala. He told the commission the only impalas he owned were purchased in 2017.
“I found my property that I bought with some animals on it. I then bought goats, sheep and about four impalas at that time,” Sibiya told the commissioners.
Sibiya also denied instructing Nkosi to share the arrest warrant of blogger Musa Khawula with Matlala.
He told the commission he had no reason to distribute the warrant, saying Khawula already had three warrants issued against him at the time.
This follows Nkosi’s testimony that he shared the warrant with Matlala on Sibiya’s instructions. Nkosi claimed they needed Matlala’s security company to urgently assist in arresting Khawula after he allegedly insulted Fikile Mbalula and a man identified only as Zee.
According to Nkosi, Sibiya instructed him to share the warrant so that Matlala’s security company could help police execute the arrest.
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