Shibiri’s Sandton spending spree revealed as crime boss’s R70k ‘loan’ questioned

Days after receiving a “loan” from Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, suspended police organised crime boss Maj-Gen Richard Shibiri went to Sandton, where he splurged on designer sneakers and sandals. This was revealed at the Madlanga commission on Thursday, where Shibiri was in the hot seat yet again to explain more about the alleged R70,000 loan he claimed Matlala lent him to repair his son’s vehicle. Shibiri also claimed that he sold his cattle to pay off the loan.

According to evidence before the commission, bank records show that between October and November 2024, Shibiri made two substantial payments in Sandton after receiving R70,000 fromMatlala. The evidence showed he bought Gucci sneakers worth R19,500 in Sandton. Six days later, he bought Louis Vuitton sandals for R17,000.

Zoning in on Shibiri’s bank accounts, commissioner Sandile Khumalo said evidence showed that he had substantial amounts in the bank and therefore didn’t require a loan from Matlala, which he claimed he needed to repair his son’s car. “The simple proposition that we are putting to you is that your bank statement shows that you did not need a loan, and you certainly did not need to sell any of your cattle to repay Matlala,” Khumalo said. “At the end of October, you made this purchase before your salary could reflect in your account, and you still had a balance of R47,000 that excludes the overdraft facility of R44,000.

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“So, you have at least R90,000 available to you for that month, and when you go to November, you have in excess of R90,000 available to you,” he said. Evidence leader Adv Thabang Pooe also revealed that Shibiri had R50,000 before 18 September 2024, the day he got the alleged R70,000 loan from Matlala, which he said he needed to repair his son’s car. In May last year, when Matlala was arrested and interrogated over the attempted murder of his former partner, Tebogo Thobejane, he told investigators that he connected with senior police officials and was disappointed that they used him while he gave them money.

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