Suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and Sergeant Fannie Nkosi have given conflicting testimony at the Madlanga Commissionleaving it a case of one man’s word against the other’s.
The Background
During his testimony last month, Nkosi (then identified only as Witness F) said that when tenderpreneur Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala went to meet Sibiya at head office in 2024, Sibiya asked him to fetch Matlala from the entrance.
Nkosi said he took Matlala to Sibiya’s office, where Sibiya allegedly asked him to act as middleman because of his packed schedule.
Sibiya’s Version
Sibiya contradicted that version.
“My office is structured. I have an administration, a messenger, a PA and a staff officer. When there is someone down there, they call; one of them will be the one to fetch Matlala, which was the case. He was fetched by one of the ladies in the office.”
He denied asking Nkosi to act as middleman. Although he admitted communicating with Matlala through Nkosi, he said the communication was “significantly minimal.”
Nkosi’s Response
On Monday, Nkosi stood by his initial testimony, respectfully denying Sibiya’s testimony as either “false” or that “maybe he just forgot.”
“This is false. I have been to Sibiya’s office many times, more than I can count. It’s false that I did not deliver Matlala to his office.”
The Impala Dispute
Nkosi also addressed claims about arranging impalas for Sibiya.
Sibiya had testified that Nkosi offered to help look for impalas for him, and that Sibiya said he didn’t want anything from a SAPS service provider.
Nkosi said: “I was not arranging for Sibiya to get impalas. To my knowledge, Mr Matlala sent me the voice note. I sent it to General Sibiya; he sent me feedback, and I sent it back to Mr Matlala. But I did not take part in the said arrangement.”
“It’s also false that Sibiya said he did not want anything from a service provider.”
During their conversation, Sibiya never said he did not want impalas, said Nkosi.
“I have no reason to lie about General Sibiya.”
The Khawula Connection
Businessman Ze Nxumalo’s name came up againthis time over the warrant of arrest for blogger Musa Khawula.
Khawula has shared controversial statements about ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, Matlala, and Nxumaloclaims that landed him in jail.
The commission reviewed Nxumalo and Nkosi’s WhatsApp messages.
Nkosi saved Nxumalo as “Zenzile EFF” , reluctantly explaining: “I once saw him wearing an EFF cap.”
Nxumalo referred to Nkosi as “007” though he denied that meant he regarded him as his secret agent.
The Warrant
Nkosi testified that Nxumalo sent him the warrant of arrest for Khawula the same day it was issued by court.
Nxumalo allegedly went as far as buying tickets for SAPS officers to attend the same show as Khawula to effect his arrest. (The blogger did not attend.)
Following Khawula’s arrest, Nxumalo allegedly sent Nkosi the blogger’s picture and arrest register in January 2025though Nkosi admitted it was not legal for the businessman to possess such.
The Bottom Line
Two testimonies. Two versions. One commission trying to find the truth.
Sibiya says Nkosi is wrong. Nkosi says Sibiya is “false.” And the commission is left to decide who to believe.
