Suspended SAPS Major-General Richard Shibiri is facing tough questions at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry after bank records revealed he spent nearly R20,000 at Gucci around the same time he claims he needed to borrow R70,000 to fix his son’s car.
Shibiri, the former national head of organised crime in SAPS, told the commission he took the loan from alleged organised crime figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala after his son’s car was damaged and an insurance claim was rejected. The repair was estimated at about R55,000.
However, bank statements presented to the commission show that shortly before or around the time of the loan, Shibiri made luxury purchases in Sandton, including almost R20,000 at Gucci and another item from Louis Vuitton a few days earlier.
Financial records also revealed that before his next payday, Shibiri had access to more than R90,000 through available funds and an overdraft facility — enough to cover the repair without borrowing money.
Shibiri told the commission he repaid the loan in full. He claims he paid R20,000 in cash in November 2024 using money from cattle he sold at his homestead, and later transferred R50,000 to Matlala in December 2024.
But the commission questioned this explanation after the bank records showed the Gucci purchase happening around the same time he says he was using cattle-sale money to repay the loan.
Shibiri insists the loan was purely personal, with no conditions attached, and denies that he gave Matlala any favours in his role as a senior police official.
The commission is continuing its investigation into alleged links between SAPS officials and organised crime figures, including claims of interference and improper relationships involving Matlala.
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