The controversy over alleged Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) payments continues to dog the South African Police Service (SAPS), as investigations into cartel infiltration of the criminal justice system unfold.
Suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has reignited the debate, claiming that his fellow deputy, Lieutenant General Khosi Senthumule, received a butt lift funded by alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi Cat Matlala. Sibiya raised the allegation during his testimony at the Madlanga Commission, seemingly aiming to shift attention toward Senthumule, whom he feels betrayed by.
“I am advised that it has been alleged that Generals in Tumula personally benefited from Matlala in circumstances that were not disclosed. These allegations include certain elective medical procedures, the costs of which were paid for by Mr. Matlala. I am advised that these benefits were not declared through any formal disclosure,” Sibiya said.
The claim that Matlala financed BBLs for senior SAPS officials was first made by ActionSA MP Darleen James during Matlala’s appearance before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating alleged political interference and criminal infiltration.
Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, head of Quality Management in the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management division of SAPS Forensic Services in Pretoria, previously raised the issue at the commission. She suggested that some senior officials may have had butt lifts paid for by Matlala and added that he had purchased R4,000 worth of Ozempic for her, while “others got BBLs.” Matjeng’s claim went largely unchallenged.
Sibiya elaborated, stating, “We had a witness who spoke about certain senior managers receiving BBLs. In my case, I had to give her time off because she could not sit, either in the car or in the office, and had to stand throughout the day. I even advised her to work from home.”
Earlier, Sibiya played a recording of a conversation with Senthumule, aiming to show that colleagues were attempting to discredit him to push him out of SAPS. He alleged that while Senthumule publicly opposed the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, she privately criticized it in conversations with him.
Sibiya is also under scrutiny over claims that Matlala purchased a farm for him, along with a herd of buffalo and cash allegedly provided by Matlala and another alleged criminal, Katiso “KT” Molefe. Previous witnesses indicated that Sibiya received these benefits through a junior officer acting as an intermediary.
Thursday marked Sibiya’s second day at the commission, with his testimony scheduled over four days.