LT-GENS HIBIRI

Witness A invited himself to a gathering at a private lounge on 25 May 2024; he was not invited and was unaware of any party there.

“I was not invited . I invited myself there that day .”

LT-GENS HIBIRI stated that to investigate wrongdoing or arrest people, there must be evidence and proper inquiry opened.

“I indicate that I cannot just call people without evidence and then start accusing people , and it is not how you investigate and how you will arrest people . I indicate the TR need to happen , inquiry opened , and proper investigation be done .”

LT-GENS HIBIRI did not know Witness A was at the gathering until introduced to him there on 25 May 2024.

“I did not know about the party , and I could not have known that there will be a party because I was not invited . I invited myself there that day .”

LT-GENS HIBIRI was surprised by the presence of certain people at the private lounge gathering on 25 May 2024 and joked with Vusi that he was opening a police station, as the arrangement was for prior phone calls to avoid crowding for privacy.

“I was surprised , why are they there . And then , and I did not want to make them feel otherwise whatsoever , and I ask Vusi , jokingly , you did not tell me you are opening a police station here because I knew our arrangement is when we are coming there , we will phone , and it will be us friends , not when there is too much people , because we were trying to keep our privacy . Then , he said , no , this is my boys”

LT-GENS HIBIRI knew Vusi Ndlala from that day and previously did not know him.

“I now know , I did not know by that day .”

LT-GENS HIBIRI said the place used for gatherings is a business, where police officers must phone ahead to book a private area for senior-only gatherings; phoning Vusi was not part of this arrangement but an individual action when seeing him.

“it is a business . We phone . We phone when we get there . We were given that allowance to say , if we want to come ourselves and book and sit as us , we can do so , but prior phoning . But that time I phoned him to say he is there . I was passing by seeing him . It was not that arrangement .”

There is a protocol that Vusi knows about the private place used for gatherings and the rule that it is only for senior police officers, and Vusi introduced two junior police officers to LT-GENS HIBIRI despite knowing this.

“there is clearly a protocol . Vusi knows what your rule is .”