Suspended senior police officer Richard Shibiri has admitted that he was aware of criminal allegations against businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala before accepting a R70,000 payment from him.
Shibiri made the admission during intense cross-examination at the Madlanga Commission, which is investigating allegations that he had a close relationship with Matlala and may have acted in his interests.
Earlier in his testimony, Shibiri insisted that he only knew Matlala as a businessman and claimed he would never have accepted money from him had he known of his alleged links to criminal activity.
However, evidence presented to the commission included WhatsApp messages showing that Matlala had informed Shibiri on 17 September about allegations circulating against him, including claims made by entertainment blogger Musa Khawula. Just a day later, Shibiri accepted the R70,000 payment from Matlala.
During questioning, co-commissioner Sandile Khumalo pointed out the contradiction in Shibiri’s earlier statements.
Khumalo noted that Shibiri had previously told the commission he would not accept a loan from someone accused of a crime. When asked to confirm that he knew about the allegations at the time he accepted the money, Shibiri conceded that he did.
Despite the admission, Shibiri maintained that the payment was merely a loan intended to help repair his son’s car and insisted that he has since repaid the money to Matlala.
The suspended officer also claimed that misinformation had contributed to his suspension from the South African Police Service and suggested that some officers had been promised promotions if they testified negatively about him.
The commission, chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, continues to hear evidence related to alleged corruption and improper relationships involving senior police officials.