The father of the 16-year-old at the centre of suspended deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya’s case claims he has a secret file containing information on Sibiya, businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, politicians and senior officials, and people who disappeared, which should to be handed to authorities if he dies.
The allegations emerged on Wednesday at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court during Sibiya’s ongoing bail application.
Sibiya, 59, was arrested on September 21 following an investigation by the Commission Recommendations Task Team, which is examining matters arising from the Madlanga Commission.
He faces charges including rape, sexual grooming and human trafficking.
Sibiya has denied the allegations.
State’s case
The State alleges that Sibiya raped an 18-year-old woman at a Sandton hotel on May 15 after she was given alcohol and lost consciousness.
He is also accused of sexually grooming a 16-year-old girl via WhatsApp between July and August, including allegedly possessing and sharing sexually explicit images of her.
The teenager is the daughter of an associate of Sibiya, identified in court as Mr M.
The State further alleges that Sibiya trafficked three people for sexual exploitation.
Prosecutors maintain they have a strong case and are opposing Sibiya’s release on bail.
Messages presented in court
Sibiya’s lawyer, Lindiwe Makhoba, presented WhatsApp messages exchanged between Mr M and Sibiya’s wife, Sizakele Dlamini, in support of the bail application.
In one message, Mr M expressed concern about how matters were unfolding in court.
“Good afternoon, Mama. I’m very disturbed by how your husband painted me in court, how he brought all my friends to be against me from January after he paused my marriage, even though it was weak.”
Mr M said he had started documenting Sibiya’s movements and interactions after he began reporting him.
“I’ve tried to speak to my wife, that was the day I started reporting him, reporting all the locations, taking pictures of the people that was meeting every event that was happening in the car, the camera of my car, the tracker locations, the people that has been collecting money, left and right, all the information that was indulging me, but the way he is playing nasty with me in court.”
He said he had no other choice but to hand the information to authorities.
“I know I’m not against you, but I have to give it to the right people, all this information today.”
He said he had compiled records of his observations and intended to hand them over.
Claims about investigations and recordings
Mr M claimed he had gathered information about Sibiya and his alleged dealings with various people.
“I’m going to deny anything … I’m going to have to give them every information pertaining to all the cases, all people who disappeared, all Cat Matlala involvement, all the senior officials, politicians, and everyone I have done so much assignment on him, being afraid of him will kill me from day one but he made a huge mistake.”
Matlala is business tycoon who has become a prominent figure in investigations into alleged corruption and criminal activity involving police and government contracts.
Mr M claimed to have documented meetings and interactions involving Sibiya and said he would provide the information to investigators.
“I have nothing against you. I’ve been respecting you, but I had to report everything that I was doing with him.”
Mr M further alleged that he had photographed people who visited Sibiya and recorded meetings and conversations.
“And whoever that I was talking to, every meeting that he was having at the house, I was reporting taking pictures of those people who were coming, even that surgeon that was behind the boss on the day that he came.”
He said he had also documented interactions involving a North West businessman, whom he referred to as Brian.
“Even Brian, (Brown Mogotsi) the North West businessman, every details, details, I have it compiled and that file I will be handing over. I gave it to somebody to hold it for my safety.”
Mogotsi, a businessman and self-described political fixer from North West, has previously featured in investigations and reports concerning alleged corruption, police leaks and political interference in the criminal justice system.
Claims of a hidden file
Mr M told Dlamini that he had made arrangements for the information in his possession to be handed to authorities if he died.
“Somebody already has this file for me, this USB.”
He claimed that the person holding the USB would hand it to the “right people” if he died.
“It’s only a matter of me dying by any format that USB will be given to the right people.”
Mr M also alleged that he had been threatened and that people close to him had been used against him.
“The person who has it. I tried that person with my life. He keeps on punishing me. He uses people who are my friends against me.”
He said the dispute had moved beyond Sibiya’s current criminal case.
“I was just only letting you know that the way he proceeded, we won’t be focusing on the issue of only this case.”
“He will have to explain to himself all the proper preparation of all this criminal that he was doing.”
Mr M said he intended to provide investigators with information and records relating to Sibiya.
“He was not supposed to be part of this, but we will send it to the investigator officer, all information, all records, all records. Everything from family meetings and everything that he was doing.”
Alleged recordings in the car
Mr M also claimed that he had recorded conversations involving Sibiya while travelling in his car.
He said he had placed a bag in the vehicle for his own purposes and had been listening to conversations because the car belonged to him.
“All the conversation, all this criminal activity that was negotiating on the car, inside the car, has been obtained in my USB. I wish he wouldn’t have just went that route.”
Mr M said his primary motivation was protecting his daughter.
“That’s my child, and I will do anything and everything to fight for the rights of my child.”
He also warned that he would continue providing evidence to investigators.
“Let them not call me because I will continue giving evidence by evidence.”
Mr M claimed he had almost 300 voice recordings and had recorded Sibiya during telephone and in-person conversations.
“I have doubts about the biggest file, more than what he thinks,” one of his messages read.
Sibiya’s bail application was postponed to October 13 for further proceedings.
He remains in custody at the Kgosi Mampuru ll Correctional Centre, in Pretoria.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
IOL News
