Reverand Khumalo Says Withdrawn Cases Around Sibiya’s Associates ‘Cannot Be Coincidence’
A prominent social commentator has raised serious questions about links between a top police official and men with criminal pasts, calling for a deep probe into what he sees as a web of protection and favours. In a strong opinion piece, Rev. Mo’hau Khumalo points to suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya and his close ties to Stuart James Sharnick and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. He argues that the many withdrawn criminal cases against these two men are no accident, but a sign of deeper rot in South Africa’s law enforcement. This comes amid ongoing hearings at the Madlanga Commission, where claims of tampering with records and criminal networks have come to light, shaking public trust in the police.
Khumalo, known for his sharp takes on social issues and calls for change, warns that such connections could mean the police are too close to the very criminals they should fight. With South Africa battling high crime rates, these allegations highlight worries about who really runs the show in the fight against wrongdoing.
The Men at the Centre of the Storm
Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, once a key figure in crime detection, is now suspended and facing scrutiny over his actions and friends. He has confirmed knowing Matlala and another person named Mogotsi, describing their links as professional or helpful in police work. But critics like Khumalo see it differently, calling it a “brotherhood of impunity” where powerful people shield each other.
Stuart James Sharnick, a businessman and Sibiya’s associate, has a long criminal record that includes 18 convictions from cases in 2011 and 2012, mostly tied to hijackings. He got a five-year suspended sentence, meaning he avoided jail time as long as he stays out of trouble. Sharnick has spoken out, saying the 18 counts were part of one big case and that he has turned his life around. But recent claims say his record was changed by someone inside the police, making some crimes disappear from the system.
KwaZulu-Natal police have confirmed an insider made these changes, and they plan to hand over files to prove it. Sharnick denies any wrongdoing and has even opened a case against a top cop for spreading false claims about him being part of a hijacking cartel.
Then there is Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, another businessman with a shady past. His criminal history goes back to 2000, with convictions for things like theft and fraud. Over the years, he has faced serious charges including murder, attempted murder, carjacking, and assault. Many of these cases were withdrawn, often for reasons like lack of evidence or witnesses pulling out. Matlala has been linked to big crime figures, such as hitmen tied to Czech gangster Radovan Krejcir. In recent parliamentary hearings, opposition MPs grilled him over his past, calling him a “dishonest thug” and questioning how he lands big tenders despite his record. Matlala admits to some old convictions but says he is now a clean businessman. He has also accused former police minister Bheki Cele of demanding a R500,000 payoff, which Cele denies.
Khumalo highlights how both Sharnick and Matlala have dodged full punishment for violent crimes that would land most people behind bars. “These are not minor figures. They are not petty offenders,” he writes, pointing to a pattern of “miraculous escapes from justice.”
Ties That Bind: Favours and Protection
What ties these men together? Khumalo calls it the “Sibiya–Sharrick–Matlala Triangle,” a setup where each helps the other. For example, when Matlala had issues getting paid by the police for services, he turned to Sibiya for help, not the usual channels. Sibiya stepped in, sorting out the payments. On the flip side, when Sibiya faced suspension and threats, Sharnick provided him with a bulletproof luxury car for safety. Khumalo asks: “Why would a convicted man supply a top cop with a bulletproof vehicle? What does he gain? What does Sibiya owe?”
These acts are not just kind gestures, Khumalo argues. Bulletproof cars are for people who fear attacks, often in shady dealings. Sibiya has said the car was a loan from a friend during a tough time, but critics see it as proof of deeper links. Matlala, too, has been pulled into police matters, with claims he lied under pressure from Sibiya in some cases.
Testimony at the Madlanga Commission backs some of this up. Crime Intelligence boss Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo (no relation to the reverend) showed evidence linking Sibiya to criminal groups. He presented CCTV footage and other proof tying Sibiya to suspects in murders and other crimes. There are even talks of a “Group Five” – including Sibiya, Matlala, Sharnick, former police minister Senzo Mchunu, and others – who allegedly targeted rivals like KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and his task team fighting crime syndicates.
Patterns of Withdrawn Cases and Tampered Records
A big red flag for Rev. Khumalo is the string of withdrawn dockets. For Sharnick, police in KwaZulu-Natal say there were 29 criminal cases in that province alone, with many dropped. Nationwide, claims put it at 34 cases, with 18 convictions and others withdrawn. An audit showed deletions in the system, pointing to inside help. A police officer is now in hot water for allegedly clearing parts of Sharnick’s record.
Matlala’s story is similar. Over two decades, he has beaten charges in at least a dozen serious cases. From early 2000s thefts to later links with hitmen, many probes ended without trial. In one high-profile matter, he was arrested with Krejcir’s enforcers but walked free. Recent court bids show him fighting to clear his name, but MPs have listed out vanished charges like hijacking and fraud.
Khumalo insists: “How is it possible that both individuals enjoy the same immunity from accountability?” He sees it as “systemic rot,” where crooks and cops protect each other.
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