Suspended deputy police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, has found himself at the centre of a scandal following revelations that he maintained contact with notorious figures implicated in serious criminal activities. Sibiya’s testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee investigating corruption allegations tied to KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has opened a Pandora’s box of questions concerning integrity within South Africa’s police force.
The corruption investigation has exposed Sibiya’s alleged role in lobbying for the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) at the behest of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who himself is currently on special leave. Testimonies from SAPS Crime Intelligence Head, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, have suggested that senior officials, fearing exposure from an infiltrating cartel, orchestrated this disbandment. Khumalo’s claims paint a picture of an underlying power struggle involving armed individuals wanting to shield the criminal justice system from scrutiny, raising serious concerns about the integrity of law enforcement agencies.
At the heart of these allegations are figures like Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and Oupa Brown Mogotsi, both accused of manipulating law enforcement processes for personal gain. Matlala, who has been linked to the notorious R2 billion ‘looting’ saga at Tembisa Hospital, is currently incarcerated, accused of orchestrating the attempted murder of actress Tebogo Thobejane. Mogotsi, on the other hand, has been highlighted during early testimonies at the Madlanga Commission, with multiple witnesses accusing him of serving as a conduit between high-ranking SAPS officials and alleged criminal enterprises.
During his testimony, Sibiya acknowledged his knowledge of Matlala and Mogotsi but insisted that his relationships with them were purely professional. “My job deals with information; I work with crime,” Sibiya declared. He downplayed the nature of their interactions, claiming, “It’s not like we are friends… I do have his number, but many times, he is the one who calls.” However, this defence was met with skepticism from the MPs present, who noted the alarming implications of his links to figures like Mogotsi and Matlala.
The inquiry continues.