Alleged drug cartel member Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala told police he regularly gave suspended deputy national police commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya money in bags of cash. Matlala gave some of this money to Sibiya to purchase a B&B.
This information was revealed by Witness C on Thursday at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System taking place at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria.
The commission is chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
Thursday’s commission proceedings were held partially in camera because Witness C was testifying remotely and off camera. Witness C’s name has been withheld to protect his identity.
Certified forensic investigator
Witness C said he is a member of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) political killings task team (PKTT). He is also a certified forensic investigator specialising in fraud and corruption investigations.
He said he joined the PKTT in May 2020. On December 2 2024 he was deployed to assist the Gauteng organised crime unit with its investigations.
His testimony is led by the commission’s evidence leader, Advocate Ofentse Motlhasedi. The latter is assisted by Adv Mahlape Sello SC, another evidence leader of the commission.
During his testimony, Witness C told the commission that after police arrested Matlala in Midrand in May, he started name-dropping. He told them that he knows Sibiya very well.
“Matlala told us how he met general Sibiya. He said he used to provide security services at the farm of the late Mr Msibi [late taxi boss Zanemvula Jothan Msibi]. He said Sibiya was a regular person there at Msibi’s farm, and he met him there. Matlala said at the farm he met Msibi’s associates, and they were introduced to him as the Big Five.
Links to wealthy taxi boss
“Matlala said Msibi’s farm was located after Hammanskraal at a game reserve. He said it was the most secure farm because only those close to Msibi had access to the farm,” said Witness C.
Msibi, popularly known as Mswazi, was a wealthy Pretoria taxi owner and transport mogul. He died in a Pretoria hospital in January 2024 due to an undisclosed illness.
According to the national head of crime intelligence, Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo, the “Big Five” is a cartel that deals in drug trafficking, contract killings, cross-border vehicle hijackings, kidnappings, tender fraud, and extortion mainly related to drug trafficking.
Witness C also said after Msibi’s passing, Matlala told police that Sibiya told him that “since the old man [Msibi] has passed away, you must take care of me, and I will take care of you in return…”
“Matlala’s understanding was that Sibiya wants him to take care of him financially… Matlala said Sibiya preferred cash payments and not electronic payments…” said Witness C.
He said Matlala told police that Sibiya would instruct him to go to Sibiya’s house and drop off the money. And he would also go to Sibiya’s townhouse in a gated community in Sandton to drop off the money there.
Funded Sibiya son’s wedding party
“Matlala said he once gave Sibiya R1-million in a certain month. And the money was a portion that came from the R360-million SAPS tender he received. He said he gave Sibiya R300, 000 towards a party organised for Sibiya’s son, who was getting married.
“Matlala said Sibiya once instructed him to place cash in a dustbin located next to his SAPS office in Pretoria. He did not specify how much he gave Sibiya… Matlala further said he gave Sibiya R2-million in cash at his Sandton house. This was to help him and his wife to purchase a B&B [Bed & Breakfast]…” said Witness C.
Witness C said Matlala told police that he bought Sibiya 20 impalas for his plot but the impalas died.
He said Matlala did not specify where Sibiya’s plot was located.
In his current case, Matlala (49), his wife Tsakani (36), two alleged hitmen Musa Kekana (35) and Tiego Floyd Mabusela (47), and Nthabiseng Nzama (23), who is the daughter of Mabusela, have been charged with the attempted murder of Tebogo Thobejane.
Attempted murder of ex-lover
The five accused are facing various charges including but not limited to attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, money laundering and defeating the ends of justice. All in connection with the alleged hit on Thobejane.
Their case returns to Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on November 11.
The three counts of attempted murder the accused are facing are in connection with the injuries sustained by Thobejane. Also for injuries sustained by her friends Anele Malinga and Khumbulani Ncube from the alleged hit.
On the night of October 17 2023, the black BMW vehicle that Thobejane, Malinga and Ncube were travelling in was sprayed with a hail of bullets. This happened at the corner of Bryanston and Wilton Drive in Bryanston, Sandton, Johannesburg. The shooting occurred between 10pm and 10:30pm.
No bail for Matlala
Thobejane was shot in the foot, while Malinga was wounded and shot in the spinal cord. Malinga has been left paralysed.
Tsakani and Nzama are out on R20, 000 and R10, 000 bail, respectively.
Kekana, Mabusela and Matlala remain in police custody. Kekana and Mabusela abandoned their bail applications. Matlala was denied bail by the Johannesburg High Court on Monday.
The Johannesburg High Court decision comes after Matlala appealed the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court decision that denied him bail in September.
The commission continues.
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