Matlala Claims He Never Read Affidavit Naming R500K Bribe To SAPS Deputy Commissioner

Last week, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala entered a Johannesburg courtroom with a tale that quickly fell apart when examined. For the first time, the billionaire denies knowing the contents of his own signed statement, despite his lengthy history of ties to lucrative state contracts. He reportedly sent former South African Police Service deputy commissioner Shadrack Sibiya R500,000 in cash, as detailed in that paper that was submitted under his name and bears his signature. The stated goal was to get a health tender for R228 million from the SAPS.

Investigators were led to believe that Matlala signed the statement without reading it; however, his defence team is now arguing that this was not the case. Payment was supposedly swapped for preferential treatment on a procurement for over a quarter of a billion rand in the document. Formerly one of the country’s most senior uniformed officers, Sibiya is now embroiled in a web of corruption charges. Both men insist they are innocent and have not been found guilty of these particular allegations.

Hawks, short for Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, have verified that the affidavit is a component of a continuing investigation. The team is actively investigating all possible leads related to the SAPS health contract, according to spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nomthandazo Mbambo. In order to protect the confidentiality of ongoing investigations, officials have refused to comment on the specific status of the case. As of the publication of this report, the National Prosecuting Authority has not to provide an official reaction.

During Matlala’s evidence before the State Capture Commission, which focused on procurement issues concerning SAPS contracts, the commissioners first took notice of him. Investigators now characterise the time when his firm earned significant government contracts as being contaminated on a systematic level. Before leaving the SAPS, Sibiya was the subject of disciplinary procedures related to several tender disputes.

A blue-headed lady held a printed copy of the affidavit extract outside the building. Her only purpose in coming all the way from Thembisa was to see the events. “A man owns every word if he signs anything,” she said as she delicately tucked the sheet into her purse.

Either Matlala willingly pledged a half-million-rand bribe or someone slipped explosive accusations into a paper that he mindlessly signed off on. The main unsolved problem is clear. Both options need unsettling responses, and neither of them is entirely accurate at this time.

https://x.com/eNCA/status/2120159838457967099?a=i7Rt7sljLMZF3bRPL5U&s=19

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