Witness F’s testimony continues after shocking revelation linking SAPS deputy commissioner to crime cartel
Witness F's testimony has revealed shocking connections between suspended SAPS Deputy Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and alleged crime boss Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.
Image: IOL Graphics
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry will resume hearings on Wednesday, with Gauteng organised crime unit officer, Witness F, set to face further questioning.
On Tuesday, Witness F dropped a bombshell, revealing that suspended SAPS National Deputy Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya allegedly received impalas as a gift from Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, a suspected crime mastermind
The commission will likely grill Witness F further on his role as a middleman between Sibiya and Matlala.
The WhatsApp chats suggested that Matlala had gifted Sibiya impalas, sparking concerns about their relationship and possible influence-peddling within SAPS.
The witness also made a startling revelation that a nephew of the late deputy president, David Mabuza, approached him about an arms deal venture to import guns into South Africa.
Mabuza’s nephew, Siphiwe Mabuza, allegedly inquired about selling a compact CQC (Close Quarter Combat) 12-gauge shotgun, asking if Witness F had "a market" for it.
His testimony on Tuesday was heard after a dramatic start with Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga rebuking Witness F's legal representative, Attorney Hartley Ngoato, for arriving eight minutes late at the commission.
Ngoato, who profusely apologised, told the commission that his client had approached the high court with an urgent application to prevent the commission from using WhatsApp messages extracted from his cellphone.
However, the commission ruled that the proceedings will continue despite the court application expected to be heard on February 10 at the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg.
Ngoato argued that WhatsApp chats do not distinguish between original messages sent by the witness and those forwarded from others, potentially distorting the narrative.
“In perusing the WhatsApp chats, the nature of the WhatsApp chats and the manner in which they were being extrapolated, it only shows outgoing and incoming messages that were not originated by him, but he received them when they were forwarded to him,” he said.
Ngoato further argued that the witness at the commission may incriminate himself, which would be a violation in terms of Section 35.3 of the Constitution.
He expressed concern that an interim report was handed over to President Cyril Ramaphosa on December 15, 2025, with findings and recommendations against the witness, before he could submit his written statement to the commission.
Evidence Leader Matthew Chaskalson argued against Witness F's application to prohibit the commission from exhibiting his WhatsApp chats, saying he had known his scheduled appearance before the commission since November last year.
He said the witness was furnished with all WhatsApp messages also made available to the commission on January 22.
"He has no basis for preventing the commission from having regards to those chats and confronting him with those chats," he said.