Sibiya grilled on purchase of 20 impalas by Matlala

Suspended deputy national commissioner Lt-GenShadrack Sibiyahas claimed innocence in the purchase of impalas by Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala for him, shifting blame to a police officer working with him to have facilitated the deal without his knowledge. “I categorically deny that I acquired or received any impalas from Matlala or any other person for that matter. ”No animal was ever delivered to my plot,” Sibiya said testifying at the Madlanga commission yesterday.

Witnesses before the commission investigating allegations of criminal infiltration in the justice cluster alleged Matlala purchased 20 impalas for Sibiya in March 2024. The cellphone records of Witness F, a police officer working closely with Sibiya and whose name is being withheld for safety reasons, purport that he told Sibiya about the delivery of the impalas in March 2024 and asked for his address. Sibiya then sent his address for the delivery of impalas after Witness F told him the request for the address came from Matlala.

However, Sibiya told the commission that when he realised the animals were impalas and not blesboks he rejected them, and they were never delivered to his plot in Midrand. He told the commission his rejection was because he did not want to receive something from a South African Police Service (SAPS) service provider. Matlala’s company, Medicare24, was a bidder in a R360m SAPS health services tender at the time.

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Sibiya testified the animals he inherited when he bought the plot in 2017 were dying, and the last impala died in November 2023. He said he was left with one blesbok and asked Witness F to look for a blesbok because the animal that was left was distressed. Sibiya said he was not aware Witness F discussed the issue with Matlala to buy for his benefit.

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