LT-GENSIBIRI

Lt-Gen Shibiri admits he got a benefit from a friend in the form of an interest-free loan.

“Ja, I got a benefit from a friend, yes.”

Lt-Gen Shibiri denies knowing that the loan provider was a criminal at the time he accepted the loan.

“To know that he is a criminal, I did not know. He is arrested now, he is a criminal now.”

Lt-Gen Shibiri admits there were allegations of criminality against Mr Matlala, but he was not charged at the relevant time.

“And there were allegations, yes, I agreed to that... Correct, and he is not yet charged for that.”

Chairperson accuses Lt-Gen Shibiri of accepting a loan from Mr Matlala despite criminal allegations and failing to disclose it, which casts doubt on his earlier statement that he would never take a loan from a criminal or alleged criminal.

“Now you admit that there were allegations of criminality against Mr Matlala... and yet you still took a loan from him... How does that square up with the answer you gave to me earlier?”

Lt-Gen Shibiri admits there was newspaper allegation against Mr Matlala but denies any police allegations, maintaining his stance despite being cornered.

“I agree... even though that allegation was not police allegation... even though I am cornered.”

Advocate Baloyi raises the issue that Mr Matlala sent messages on 17th and paid money on 18th to Lt-Gen Shibiri, which creates the perception that Shibiri did things for Matlala in return for the payment, creating an appearance of impropriety.

“The messages about Mr Khawula... on the 17th and then on the 18th your payment... That looks like he is paying you to do his bidding... Do you see the potential... that Mr Matlala pays you, you are prepared to do things for him?”

Lt-Gen Shibiri claims it was not Mr Khawula extorting money but someone pretending to be speaking to Khawula, acting on behalf of himself and Khawula and demanding money from Mr Matlala.

“Actually it is not Khawula who was extorting money... somebody who is purporting to be speaking to Khawula... He is a journalist... He says he sent it to say he must publish...”

Advocate Baloyi accuses Lt-Gen Shibiri of accepting money from Mr Matlala immediately after being sent a message asking for action, creating an impression of impropriety and unethical conduct.

“On the 17th he sends you a message... on the 18th he follows up with payment to you... if you were reminded to act ethically and cautiously you would not have accepted the money from him because it looks bad.”

Lt-Gen Shibiri admits accepting the money from Mr Matlala and says he made a mistake not to foresee the implications or ethical appearance at the time.

“Ja, unfortunately that is how life goes... I knew I spoke to him on the 14th. He is a friend... I did not foresee what you are looking at now...”

Lt-Gen Shibiri admits that when he accepted the loan/money from Mr Matlala, he saw nothing wrong with it and did not consider the appearances of impropriety at the time.

“Yes... No.”

Advocate Khumalo asks about the cost to fix a car; Lt-Gen Shibiri initially says no, then admits it cost about 55 (thousand?), ending up at 87 (thousand?).

“How much did it cost to fix the car?... I know. It was about 55 when it started. It ended up to 87.”

General Sibiri indicates that when approached by Matlala for assistance regarding payment on a contract, he responded by sending the query to Sergeant Nkosi to verify payment details, showing he was involved in following up finance-related issues despite stating he could not assist directly.

“he will monitor and I indicated it will show maybe tomorrow ... it is paid on that day but deposited into an account ... I just asked how much because there was nothing for me to say and already I already spoken to the man a day before”