“This relationship cannot be ignored”, says Masemola
Masemola testifies at Madlanga Commission. (IOL)
by Mathipa Phishego
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has told the Madlanga Commission that the alleged kidnapping of businessman Jerry Boshoga highlights the closeness of the relationship between Gauteng head of detectives, General Shadrack Sibiya, and businessman Vusi “Cat” Matlala, who has long been linked to underworld dealings.
Masemola testified that the incident in which Boshoga was allegedly abducted cast doubt on the integrity of certain senior police figures. According to him, the way the case unfolded showed that Sibiya and Matlala maintained a level of familiarity that raised concerns about impartiality in handling sensitive investigations.
The alleged kidnapping of Boshoga made headlines in 2022, when reports surfaced that he was forcibly taken by armed men and held for hours before being released under suspicious circumstances.
While no definitive evidence has yet linked Matlala directly to the crime, questions around his proximity to top-ranking police officials have persisted. Vusi “Cat” Matlala has for years been regarded as a controversial figure in Pretoria’s business and political circles.
He has faced allegations of involvement in organised crime and has been accused of leveraging connections within law enforcement for protection. Despite this, he has never been convicted of any major offence, fuelling speculation about his influence in high places.
General Shadrack Sibiya, who rose to prominence as a senior investigator during the days of the Scorpions and later as head of Gauteng detectives, has himself faced scrutiny over alleged misconduct. His name has surfaced in multiple controversies, including internal SAPS disputes and allegations of politically motivated investigations.
Masemola’s testimony before the commission adds another layer to the ongoing probe into corruption, political interference, and the breakdown of trust within the police service. The Madlanga Commission has already heard evidence of political meddling in operational matters, including Minister Senzo Mchunu’s directive to disband the SAPS Political Killings Task Team a move Masemola admitted he complied with despite asking President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene.
The link between Sibiya and Matlala, Masemola suggested, fits into a broader pattern of blurred lines between policing, politics, and criminal networks in South Africa. “This relationship cannot be ignored,” he told the commission.
The inquiry continues this week, with more senior officers and government officials expected to testify about political interference. The protection of criminal elements, and the weakening of specialised units tasked with tackling serious organised crime.
