'I can’t say who paid the money… I don’t want to incriminate myself': Matlala refuses to name alleged payers to suspended Shadrack Sibiya

Corruption-accused businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala has refused to identify the individuals he claims paid money to suspended deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya. During testimony at the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday, Matlala stated that suspended sergeant Fannie Nkosi served as a middleman who collected payments. Sibiya allegedly received cash from people in Gauteng, but Matlala declined to name them, citing concerns that disclosure could incriminate him.

Matlala also clarified his April 15, 2025, meeting with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, asserting that he did not provide money to Sibiya, but rather discussed alleged payments made to him by others. The commission's latest report recommends investigating Sibiya for corruption allegations.

Additionally, Matlala did not provide further details about the alleged payments, stating that the information was part of his legal strategy. He claimed that his meeting with Mkhwanazi, arranged by former Police Minister Bheki Cele, came before his arrest on attempted murder charges on May 14, 2025. Matlala attributed the meeting to his company, Medicare24, facing complaints about non-performance and seeking help from Mkhwanazi to explain the delays affecting the company.

The hearing also revisited Matlala's connections with the late taxi boss Jotham "King Mswazi" Msibi, who was allegedly the leader of the "Big Five" cartel. Matlala revealed that he provided protection services to Msibi and that Major-General Lesetja Senona, then head of the KwaZulu-Natal Hawks, visited Msibi's farm. Matlala testified that Senona, a former senior police officer, had lent him R20,000 after police raided his Pretoria property in 2024, leaving him unable to make transactions and prompting him to seek financial help.