MADLANGA COMMISSION: Matlala claims Fannie Nkosi collected cash for Sibiya, but refuses to name names

Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala said he never paid money to suspended deputy police chief Shadrack Sibiya, but claimed Sergeant Fannie Nkosi collected money from people in Gauteng on Sibiya’s behalf.

On Wednesday, 26 August, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala faced questions at the Madlanga Commission about his April 2025 meeting with KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, which opened a window into an alleged money-collection network around suspended deputy police chief Shadrack Sibiya.

The issue triggered about 30 minutes of intense debate between evidence leader Adila Hassim SC, commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and Matlala’s counsel, advocate Annelene van den Heever, over what Matlala could reasonably be expected to answer.

Matlala said Mkhwanazi, during their April 2025 meeting, had asked him whether Sibiya was collecting money from people in Gauteng. Matlala said he acknowledged that Sibiya was collecting money, but refused to identify those allegedly making the payments, repeatedly invoking his right against self-incrimination and maintaining that it formed part of his defence in his criminal trials.

When Hassim pressed him on the source of his information, Matlala dropped a name: “A third person told me that General Sibiya went to collect money. That person was a middleman, a conduit of money... Sergeant Nkosi is the middleman.”

Sergeant Fannie Nkosi has emerged as a key link between the SAPS and several people alleged to have connections to organised crime, with evidence before the commission placing him in the middle of interactions involving Sibiya, Matlala and other figures.

Shadrack Sibiya was suspended in July 2025 amid allegations that he interfered with investigations into politically motivated killings in KwaZulu-Natal, particularly the work of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

Fannie Nkosi was arrested in 2026 after a raid at his home in Pretoria North. He faces multiple charges after police found firearms, cash hidden under a mattress and six “undetected” case dockets.

Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala has a long history of criminal allegations. He became a successful businessman and won a R360-million police tender before it was cancelled. He allegedly tried to bribe a wide range of cops, as well as sidelined police minister Senzo Mchunu. He faces trial for corruption and multiple attempted murders.

Steve Motsumi is a businessman whose name has been mentioned multiple times at the Madlanga Commission. Few details have emerged, but Mkhwanazi has suggested he is “very prominent” in organised crime circles and may be linked to the Big Five cartel.

In October 2025, Witness C told the commission that Matlala allegedly paid Sibiya up to R1-million a month in bribes, with the alleged payments including R2-million towards the purchase of a plot and 20 impalas, which have since died.

According to Witness C’s testimony, Matlala, in an interview after his arrest, allegedly described making cash deliveries to Sibiya’s Sandton home.