PRETORIA - Suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner for Crime Detection Shadrack Sibiya has confirmed he shares a personal relationship with Witness F.
Sibiya was continuing his testimony before the Madlanga Commission on Thursday.
While acknowledging the close relationship between them, he said it was untrue that Witness F worked under his command or worked as a middleman for the passing of money through him.
“I don’t distance myself from being close to him. It is correct that Witness F and I have a close personal relationship," he told the commission.
"However, the relationship does not translate into any corrupt improper conduct. It does not mean that Witness F acted as an intermediary through whom I received any illicit funds.”
Sibiya was addressing damning evidence presented before the commission against him, which emanated from WhatsApp records on his and Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala’s interaction with Witness F.
The WhatsApp messages revealed that Witness F acted as a middleman between Matlala and Sibiya.
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While conceding that he enjoyed a closed relationship with Witness F, Sibiya said he was not the only senior SAPS official with close ties to the witness.
“Despite this, I am the only individual singled out in an apparent attempt to advance a narrative of impropriety.”
He told the commission Witness F was equally associated with other senior officers including Lieutenant Generals Khosi Senthumule and Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Sibiya said he had photographic evidence of Witness F with the said officials.
“In fact, to my knowledge, Witness F and General Senthumule are known to socialise and engage in recreational activities together, including biking over weekends. I do have video material that shows how close they are.”