Madlanga Commission: Shibiri says R70k loan from Matlala was not conditional

The suspended head of organised crime at the South African Police Service (SAPS), Richard Shibiri, said he did not have to do anything in exchange for a R70,000 loan received from alleged crime cartel boss Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.

Shibiri told the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday that the loan was to pay for repairs to his son’s car after the insurance claim was rejected.

He said he has since repaid Matlala in full.

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Shibiri spent most of his testimony denying allegations against him by previous witnesses. He denied that he tried to bribe police officers to make a murder case go away.

Shibiri denied he shared confidential information with civilians and also denied he was in the pockets of suspected crime cartel bosses.

However, one thing he admitted to was receiving money from Matlala in 2024.

Shibiri said at the time, he only knew Matlala as a businessman, whom he met through a mutual friend.

“There was no quid pro quo attachment to this financial assistance. Mr Matlala did not request [and] I did not provide any operational favour, investigative intervention, strategic information, procurement influence or preferential treatment of any nature.”

Shibiri also denied playing any role in Matlala’s company scoring a R360 million tender from SAPS around the same year.

His testimony will continue on Friday.