The national head of the SAPS Organised Crime unit, Major General Richard Shibiri, had direct communication with attempted-murder accused tenderpreneur Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, and money was paid for information on how to counter certain police investigations. 

This was the testimony presented to the Madlanga Commission by Witness B, a detective with the Gauteng Organised Crime unit.

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is investigating allegations, made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, of collusion and corruption between politicians, senior police, prosecutors, intelligence operatives, and elements of the judiciary.

Witness B is investigating the murder of Armand Swart, a Vereeniging engineer, who was gunned down in April 2024, in a case of mistaken identity. The hitmen allegedly mistook Swart for a colleague who had exposed corruption in a tender linked to Transnet.

The company Swart worked for had uncovered overpricing of 4,650% on small engineering parts purchased by Transnet. 

Matlala is currently in prison after his bail appeal – on a separate matter – was reserved.

Witness B said: “I was so shocked later on after the arrest of Matlala, when we looked at his cellphone analysis, to find that the General (Shibiri) has a relationship… with Matlala. I would also note that Matlala’s phone was only in use from December (2024).

“I noticed that the very same General was in communication with Matlala using WhatsApp voice calls from the period of December up until May (2025). Furthermore, I learned that the relationship is so serious that there is even an exchange of money between them.”

Witness B, whose identity is being protected, had earlier mentioned that she and other investigators in the Swart case, in May 2024, had received a call from their direct commander, informing them that Shibiri wanted to be briefed on the case.

Witness B stated that they were uncomfortable sharing the information over the phone due to the sensitivity of the matter, and they were then asked to meet with Shibiri.

She said when they were called to the meeting on May 16, 2024 to brief Shibiri about the Swart murder case, they felt proud as they assumed they were doing something that had been noticed by the national office – at that time, they were unaware of Shibiri’s purpose. 

Witness B described the meeting with Shibiri as informal.

“He told us that the case we were working on was risky, and he later referred to his own cases and the challenges he experienced. He said we needed to ensure we get protection and TRAs (Threat and Risk Assessments), and he explained how safe houses work,” she said.

Witness B said when they eventually discovered that Shibiri was communicating with Matlala and even taking money in exchange for information, this made her question everything Shibiri had said in their meeting.

The witness said that Shibiri had been vague in their meeting when talking about the possibility of  bribes being paid to get suspects released on bail and how these bribes could go to the investigating officer, prosecutor and magistrate.

Witness B said she was only able to join the dots after listening to the communication between Matlala and Shibiri and this is when she realised that Shibiri’s reference to bribes being paid to influence bail outcomes, was linked to Warrant Officer Michael Pule Tau, Musa Kekana, and Tiego Floyd Mabusela – the men arrested for Swart’s murder.

Controversial businessman Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe was later arrested for being the alleged mastermind of Swart’s murder.

Witness B said they learnt with shock that Shibiri was providing Matlala with information on how to counter the police investigation into Swart’s murder.

“That made me question everything, question myself, (whether) I would be safe to discuss certain details of investigations (if that information was being leaked). Our leaders are supposed to guide us,” Witness B said about her reaction to Shibiri providing Matlala with information.

The testimony continues.

gcwalisile.khanyile@inl.co.za

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