Sibiya Cartel Shock: WhatsApps Expose Police Officer As Middleman To Underworld

The Madlanga commission has been presented with explosive WhatsApp messages showing how a police officer allegedly acted as a conduit between Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and suspected criminal cartel members.

Messages extracted from the phone of a police officer, identified as Witness F, were used on Tuesday to demonstrate how he allegedly relayed instructions and information between his superior and underworld figures.

The evidence was led to illustrate how Witness F became a critical link between law enforcement leadership and alleged organised crime players.

Impalas, Addresses and ‘Number One’

One of the WhatsApp exchanges revealed how Witness F allegedly facilitated the delivery of impalas from alleged cartel member Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala to Sibiya in March 2024.

In the messages shown to the commission, Matlala asks Witness F where the animals should be delivered. Witness F then sends the same question to Sibiya, referred to in his phone as “number one”.

Sibiya allegedly responded by sharing his address.

Advocate Matthew Chaskalson, an evidence leader at the commission, asked Witness F to confirm whether the address belonged to Sibiya.

“I can confirm, commissioners,” Witness F replied.

When questioned about arranging meetings between Sibiya and Matlala, Witness F said:
“I cannot say that. When they wanted to meet, they would meet through me. I am not arranging; I am just passing the message.”

Sibiya’s Cartel Figures, Police Secrets and Firearm Texts

The commission also examined messages linking Witness F to the late Jothan “Mswazi” Msibi, a former taxi boss believed to have led the so-called “big five” cartel involved in drug trafficking, kidnappings and contract killings.

In 2023, Witness F received a message from Sibiya saying he was rushing to OR Tambo International Airport, where Eswatini deputy commissioner William Tsintsibala Dlamini had collapsed and died. Witness F forwarded the message to Msibi, saying it was from “number one”.

When asked why he shared police information with a civilian, Witness F said Msibi had a strong interest in Eswatini matters.

He told the commission their relationship was personal: “I looked up to him as a father, and he looked at me as a son.”

The inquiry also revisited video footage previously shown to the commission of Witness F leaving the home of alleged cartel member Katiso “KT” Molefe carrying a paper bag suspected to contain cash.

WhatsApp chats further revealed that Witness F allegedly acted as an intermediary between Sibiya and businessman Steve Motsumi, previously described as “very dangerous”. In June 2024, Witness F attempted to arrange a meeting between the two and shared sensitive police information about a cash-in-transit case in Limpopo.

Witness F told the commission he did nothing wrong, saying Motsumi had no interest in the case and that he merely wanted to show he was “busy with it”.

The commission also heard evidence of firearm-related messages exchanged between Witness F and a contact saved as the late former deputy president David Mabuza.

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The March 2024 message read: “Hey brother — do you have a market for a compact CQC [close quarter combat] 12-gauge shotgun manufactured in South Africa [pic attached].
I have access to 750 units in knockdown component form [plus spares] ready for shipping with matching Flash Bang Ammo [see videos] at family price.”

Witness F claimed the messages were not from the late deputy president but from his nephew, Siphiwe Mabuza. He said he saved the contact under David Mabuza’s name because Siphiwe was “obsessed” with him.

Advocate Chaskalson said he found that explanation difficult to accept. The Madlanga commission is expected to resume on Wednesday.