Witness F: Shadrack Sibiya behind Musa Khawula’s arrest | Madlanga Commission

WhatsApp conversations presented at the Madlanga Commission show that Organised Crime head, Major-General Richard Shibiri, was in direct contact with social media commentator Musa Khawula.

The commission on Wednesday heard that Shibiri instructed Khawula not to write stories about alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

Witness F, who is currently testifying, said Shibiri later shared screenshots of the exchange between him and Khawula.

However, Witness F cautioned that he could not confirm whether Shibiri explicitly warned Khawula to halt his reporting, saying his understanding came from instructions passed down through the chain of command.

According to Witness F, the operational direction originated from his superior, suspended deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, who instructed him to share Khawula’s arrest warrant with Matlala.

He testified that Sibiya later phoned back, saying he was under pressure from high-ranking political offices, which Witness F understood to involve Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale.

Asked by evidence leader Matthew Chaskelson SC, Witness F said the pressure followed Khawula’s online posts allegedly insulting ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula’s wife and another individual identified only as Z.

Khawula had taken to X on May 8 and alleged that the wife of Mbalula, Nozuko Mbalula, and Michelle Perrow were involved in a R150million fraud and corruption scandal.

Khawula further published a series of posts on X alleging criminal activity and gang links involving Matlala, his wife Cordelia Matlala, and their security company, CAT VIP Protection Services.

The posts accused Matlala of fraud linked to Tembisa Hospital, drug operations allegedly connected to the late DJ Sumbody, and involvement in the killing of Babita Deerkam, while also linking him to alleged gang figure Vusi Khekhe.

Khawula further alleged that Cordelia Matlala had faced legal scrutiny for travelling with police blue lights, claims that remain untested in court.

The commission heard that, following the posts, police sought to arrest Khawula under the Cybercrime Act and crimen injuria, and enlisted Matlala’s private security company to help locate him, citing Matlala’s alleged knowledge of the blogger’s weekend movements.

Witness F said he shared only the arrest warrant with Matlala and believed he was acting lawfully on instruction, though the commission noted this was one of several instances where confidential police documents were sent to civilians.

In a parallel development, the Johannesburg High Court ruled on Thursday that Khawula’s statements concerning Mbalula and Perrow were unlawful, ordering him to pay damages, a judgment separate from the issues now before the commission.

The commission continues.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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