Cat Matlala
1Min
South Africa
Oct 30, 2025
A witness identified only as Witness C detailed how Matlala allegedly funded Sibiya’s lavish lifestyle, made cash drop-offs at his homes, and assisted him with personal purchases.
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into allegations of corruption within the criminal justice system has heard that suspended national deputy police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, allegedly received large sums of money from businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, with payments said to range from R500,000 to as much as R2 million.
Testifying before the commission on Thursday, a witness identified only as Witness C detailed how Matlala allegedly funded Sibiya’s lavish lifestyle, made cash drop-offs at his homes, and assisted him with personal purchases.
According to the witness, Matlala claimed there were several occasions where he gave Sibiya large amounts of cash. In one instance, when Sibiya’s son got married, Matlala said he was invited to the celebration and gave Sibiya R300,000 in support of the event.
He also alleged that Sibiya “loved money,” recalling a time when he visited Sibiya’s office seeking help regarding access to a hospital at the Pretoria West Police Academy. Sibiya allegedly instructed him to place the money “in a dustbin inside the office toilets.”
In January 2025, Matlala reportedly told the witness that Sibiya was purchasing a plot in Midrand, to be registered under his wife’s name, with plans to convert it into a bed and breakfast. For that, Matlala allegedly contributed R2 million, which he claimed to have personally delivered to Sibiya’s house in Sandton.
Witness C said Matlala also spoke openly about his relationship with Sibiya, describing how they first met while Matlala was providing security services at the farm of the late notorious taxi owner Jonathan “King Mswazi” Msibi near Hammanskraal. Sibiya was reportedly a regular visitor to the property, known for its tight security and access limited to Msibi’s close associates, referred to as the “Big Five.”
“Matlala said the Big Five are individuals who are in control of activities happening in government. It’s a criminal world that has more control over the government,” Witness C testified.
Following Msibi’s death, Sibiya allegedly approached Matlala, saying: ‘Now that Msibi is no more, please take care of me, and I will take care of you in return.’
Matlala reportedly interpreted this as a request for financial support and thereafter made regular payments to Sibiya often in cash, since Sibiya “doesn’t take electronic transfers.”
The commission also heard that Matlala claimed Sibiya and Hawks provincial head Major-General Lesetja Senona helped him secure a R1.2 billion SAPS tender, and that after every payment from SAPS, a portion sometimes up to R1 million would be passed on to Sibiya.
“With his own mouth, Matlala indicated that he would go to Sibiya’s house to drop off the money,” the witness said. “He said there is another townhouse in a gated community in Sandton where he would hand over the parcel directly to Sibiya. He described the location as an estate where a well-known figure, Serge ‘The Fixer’ Cabonge, also owns a house.”
Witness C further revealed that Matlala used an intermediary identified as F.E. Nkosi, a member of the National Organised Crime Division under Sibiya to transfer funds.
