Cat Matlala boasted about Sibiya becoming Hawks Head: Mkhwanazi

SAPS Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lt-General Shadrack Sibiya

Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has testified how Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala boasted to a businessman about how Shadrack Sibiya would succeed Lt. General Godfrey Lebeya as the next Hawks Head.

Mkhwanazi adds that the telephone call occurred while Matlala was in prison.

He has concluded Day 2 of his testimony at the Madlanga Commission taking place at the Brigette Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria.

The KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner says the conversation between Matlala and Mr Rafadi is a clear demonstration of the influence that crime syndicates have on law enforcement agencies.

“Matlala’s response to Mr Rafadi is that they gave it to General Sibiya already. So, this is, commissioners, the communication that happens preceding even the panel coming together to sit and assess the applicants and conduct the interviews and so forth. And this is what Matlala is saying and we know the filling of the vacancy of the DPCI head is the responsibility of the Minister of Police. Perhaps Mr Matlala knew something we did not know,” says Mkhwanazi.

Matlala formed a significant part of Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi’s testimony on Day 2 of the Madlanga Commission.

The commission, which has been established by President Cyril Ramaphosa, is looking into allegations of corruption and political interference in law enforcement agencies.

Lt. General Mkhwanazi has revealed how Matlala has enjoyed the privileges of law enforcement agencies.

Mkhwanazi says one of the privileges that Matlala enjoyed was that his vehicles would be registered by the Deputy Chief of Police in Ekurhuleni as if they were official municipal vehicles.

“He took these vehicles and he caused the municipality to take the blue lights that belong to municipality. The blue lights are supposed to be for the law enforcement vehicles within municipality, and he fitted those blue lights in these vehicles. And these vehicles were then given to Mr. Cat Matlala. I must indicate in terms of the Traffic Act, the only authorised bodies to be able to drive with blue light on the streets are law enforcement, which would include SAPS, the Metro Police, Traffic Police, as well as the Military Police of the Defence,” says Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi has also detailed how Matlala was caught with a cellphone inside his prison cell at the Kgoshi Mampuru Correctional Services Facility. He says this was done with the assistance of the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Samuel Thobakgale.

“The commissioner called me because after watching the address, he felt that he must send officials, the credible Correctional Service officials, to go and inspect this detained person, Cat Matlala, to go and inspect his cell and search him. It is when they did that, on the direction of the Commissioner of Correctional Services, that they found the cell phone,” says Mkhwanazi.

Madlanga Commission | Politicians implicated in alleged criminal conduct:

Mkhwanazi has also named politicians such the DA’s Dianne Kohler Barnard and National Coloured Congress Leader Fadiel Adams as some of those who attempted to disrupt the work of the Political Killings Task Team. He is also expected to testify on suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s alleged associate, Brown Mogotsi.