MADLANGA COMMISSION: Questions mount over Matlala’s reluctance to discuss relationship with Sibiya

{JSON.stringify(article.attachments[0], null, 2)} --> Serious questions are emerging from Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala’s evidence about his relationship with suspended deputy police chief Shadrack Sibiya, which he was reluctant to discuss.

On Monday, the Madlanga Commission turned to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s continued reluctance to answer questions, which he has asserted is his constitutional privilege against self-incrimination when it comes to matters linked to investigations that could incriminate him.

The commission, however, is now testing the limits of that claim, asking: does the privilege give Matlala a broad shield against questions about his relationships with senior police officials, or does it protect only answers that pose a real risk of self-incrimination?

Matlala argues that answering questions about the R228-million Medicare24 tender and other matters could prejudice his pending criminal case.

Suspended national police commissioner Fannie Masemola is a co-accused in the Medicare24 case, but unlike the 12 police officials charged with fraud, corruption and related offences, he faces four charges under the Public Finance Management Act.

Last week, Matlala told the Madlanga Commission about his relationship with controversial ANC-linked North West businessman Suliman Carrim, including a R15-million loan and their shared visits to the late taxi boss Jothan Msibi, whom authorities have linked to the alleged Big Five cartel.

Matlala also confirmed meeting KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi once in Durban in early 2025, but said they had no relationship. He was also questioned about embattled Crime Intelligence officer Feroz Khan, who was shot in June shortly before he was due to testify.

But a more pointed question emerged: why did Matlala omit suspended deputy police commissioner Sibiya from his affidavit filed on 17 August, and again fail to mention him when he testified on 24 August?

Matlala’s attempt to invoke his constitutional privilege against self-incrimination to avoid questions about his relationship with suspended deputy national police commissioner Sibiya came under sustained scrutiny at the Madlanga Commission on Monday.

Evidence leader advocate Mahlape Sello, SC, challenged Matlala to explain how discussing his relationship with Sibiya could expose him to criminal liability. Matlala has argued that he cannot discuss the relationship because Sibiya is allegedly the subject of an investigation linked to the Medicare24 tender, and recordings involving the two.

Sello pointed out that the privilege was not a blanket protection against answering questions.