Major-General Richard Shibiri, head of SAPS Organised Crime Unit, has been sacked by the SAPS.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
The South African Police Service has confirmed that Major General Richard Shibiri, the former Component Head for Organised Crime, has been fired.
In a statement, the police said this followed the conclusion of internal disciplinary processes.
"The disciplinary proceedings were conducted in accordance with applicable SAPS prescripts and principles of procedural fairness.
"Major General Shibiri was found guilty of misconduct relating to conduct that brought the organisation into disrepute, including associating himself with a known criminal."
Damaging testimony before the Madlanga Commission centred on allegations of financial ties between senior police official Shibiri and controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Evidence presented suggested that Shibiri accepted a payment of between R70,000 and R80,000 from Matlala, a figure who has repeatedly been linked to organised crime allegations.
During cross-examination, Shibiri offered varying explanations for the payment, describing it alternately as a private loan intended to repair his son's vehicle or fund construction work at his property.
However, these claims came under scrutiny after financial records reportedly showed that he had sufficient funds available in his bank account at the time.
Investigators further pointed to spending patterns that included purchases from luxury brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton during the period in question.
The commission also heard allegations that Shibiri may have compromised active police investigations by providing Matlala with sensitive information.
Witness testimony and phone records allegedly indicated that he warned Matlala ahead of a police raid conducted at his residence in December 2024 and supplied information that could have assisted efforts to counter ongoing investigations.
Additional evidence presented before the commission linked Shibiri to alleged interference in several high-profile criminal matters.
These included the murder investigation of engineer Armand Swart and a separate R300 million drug bust in Aeroton.
Witnesses claimed that Shibiri attempted to influence investigative processes and pressured officers involved in the cases to withdraw opposition to bail applications.
The credibility of Shibiri's testimony also became a focal point of the proceedings. Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and fellow commissioners repeatedly challenged inconsistencies in his evidence, accusing him of providing contradictory explanations under oath.
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