Former police deputy commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya allegedly made threatening calls to Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's wife, Tsakani, in an attempt to block Matlala from disclosing certain information. This allegation was made by Matlala in a witness statement that was part of a plea deal with the state in a R228m tender criminal case. The statement was made public only on Monday.
Matlala's witness statement, which contains Sibiya's alleged threats, was made after Sibiya called Tsakani before Matlala's appearance before Parliament's ad hoc committee last November. Sibiya allegedly warned Matlala not to disclose anything about him, threatening that Matlala's life and that of his family would be put in harm's way if he did so.
The commission previously heard testimony that Sibiya caused Matlala to change an affidavit before the high court in Pretoria in which he detailed knowing Sibiya. Matlala's witness statement also detailed paying Sibiya R500,000 "since a lot was done to ensure" that the R228m health tender by SAPS was awarded to Matlala's company, Medicare24.
However, Matlala denied he paid R500,000 to Sibiya, funnelling it through the bank account of his friend, Given Makofane. Despite two statements making reference to the R500,000 payment to Sibiya, Matlala denied making such an allegation. He only conceded giving R50,000 to Sibiya and denied Sibiya assisted him in getting the R228m tender.
The evidence is contrary to what Sibiya testified before the commission; Sibiya denied receiving any money from Matlala. Matlala told the commission he made the statement to Idac's chief investigator, Dylan Perumal, after being promised that he and his family would be placed under witness protection if he provided information about top police officials.
During his cross-examination, Matlala told the commission several points in the witness statement signed by him were "false", saying Perumal, as the one who typed the statement, must have inserted certain things. Matlala rejected from the witness statement a claim that he paid R80,000 to former public works deputy minister Bernice Swarts.
Matlala was forced to testify on the statement after commission chair Mbuyiseli Madlanga ruled that limitations in law on the usage of documents from collapsed plea deals mentioned criminal trials, not commissions. His legal representative, Annelene van den Heever, has indicated to the commission they intend to take Madlanga's ruling on review.
Key points
- Matlala alleges Sibiya threatened his family over testimony.
- Sibiya denies receiving any money from Matlala.
- Matlala's plea deal negotiations with the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption collapsed.
