Heated exchange as Shibiri tells Madlanga commission: ‘I’m not sorry’

Suspended Major General Richard Shibiri testifies at Madlanga Commission Of Inquiry at Brigette Mabandla Judicial College on March 04, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu) Suspended organised crime head Major-General Richard Shibiri has told the Madlanga commission that only he can decide how he spends his money. Shibiri returned to the commission on Thursday, where a heated exchange arose over the loan he took from murder-accused Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.

Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga said there was no need for Shibiri to take a loan from Matlala to fix his son’s car. The commission chair argued that Shibiri had sufficient funds in his bank account. He had a balance of R50 000 and an overdraft limit of R44 000.

“That basically means you had far more than you required to finance the repairs to your son’s car. That is, if you add what was in your own account in credit and also the overdraft facility you had with the bank,” said Madlanga. “My understanding here is that the balance is inclusive of the overdraft,” responded Shibiri.

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However, Madlanga highlighted that Shibiri had R94 000 available to him to fund the repairs of his son’s vehicle. “I’m trying to understand because even now, when I check on my account, it will show something over R200 000, but it will show on the ATM the amount deducted from the whole amount, then the remainder is yours. The overdraft is money you are paying monthly, meaning you are owing that money,” said Shibiri.

The commission heard that Shibiri and his son had at least R105 000 between them, while the repairs required only up to R55 000. “You basically did not need Matlala’s money,” said Madlanga.

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