Courts & Legal
‘I did not know Cat Matlala was a criminal’: Sibiya questioned over stalled political killings files
Suspended SAPS deputy commissioner Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya has told the Madlanga Commission that he was unaware of any criminal allegations against alleged cartel leader Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala when they first met.
Appearing before the commission on Monday, Sibiya said his interactions with Matlala were limited and strictly professional. He estimated that they met about five times in his office and spoke on the phone approximately three times.
“We were not friends,” he told the commission, adding that their contact was minimal.
His testimony forms part of a broader inquiry into allegations of interference in high-profile investigations and claims of corruption within senior ranks of the South African Police Service.
Political killings files left idle
During his evidence, Sibiya conceded that he took control of key political killings case files. Those dockets, he acknowledged, remained in his office for roughly three months without further investigative progress.
The admission has drawn attention because the files related to sensitive matters involving politically linked assassinations.
Central to the commission’s work is the controversial disbandment of the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team. The unit had been established to investigate political murders in the province, which has experienced repeated incidents of violence tied to political rivalry.
Evidence before the commission suggested that Sibiya centralised the task team’s dockets, including cases that were already on the court roll. This move effectively stalled ongoing investigations during that period.
Denials of personal benefit
Under questioning, Sibiya rejected allegations that he interfered in investigations for personal gain. He maintained that his decisions were based on operational considerations and said he acted in line with instructions from his seniors.
However, he confirmed that the files were not actively investigated while under his control.
The commission is also probing claims that Sibiya accepted illicit payments and gifts from alleged underworld figures. Among those named are Matlala and Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe, both of whom are linked to tender fraud investigations.
Sibiya has denied any wrongdoing and has disputed suggestions that his actions were influenced by improper relationships or financial benefit.
Inquiry continues
The Madlanga Commission continues to examine the sequence of decisions that led to the centralisation of the case files and the eventual disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team.
As proceedings unfold, the focus remains on whether senior leadership decisions within SAPS compromised investigations into politically sensitive crimes.
The inquiry is ongoing.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: News24
