Sibiya denies using ‘middleman’ to communicate with 'Cat' Matlala

Shadrack Sibiya has refuted claims that there was an agreement for one of his subordinates to be the “middleman” facilitating communication between himself and alleged criminal tender tycoon Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

The suspended deputy national police commissioner began his fifth day of testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on Tuesday morning.

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Evidence presented before the commission shows a series of WhatsApp exchanges that Sergeant Fannie Nkosi facilitated between Sibiya and Matlala over the course of a year.

During the testimony of Sibiya’s subordinate, Nkosi, it emerged that he was being used as a middleman to pass messages between his then boss, Sibiya, and Matlala.

But Sibiya vehemently denies that there was ever an agreement or meeting to arrange such facilitation to that effect in respect of Nkosi’s role.

“There was never a meeting nor an instance where we sat down and we agreed that Mr Nkosi would be our go-between. Yes, I do accept that I actually was talking to him [Nkosi] and in most instances, I didn’t even know that some of the things that I was talking to him about he would automatically send to him [Matlala]. Some of the things was just meant for me and him [Nkosi].”

A series of WhatsApp exchanges presented before the commission show that Nkosi would often forward messages from Matlala to Sibiya and vice versa.