I am not a rogue cop, suspended top cop tells MPs

SUSPENDED SAPS National Deputy Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya was not concerned that a civilian, controversial North West businessman Brown Mogotsi, was in possession of  crime intelligence information.

Mogotsi has been implicated in the alleged unlawful interference at the South African Police Service (SAPS). Mogotsi has been a central figure during the Madlanga Commission’s early testimony, with multiple witnesses pointing to his proximity to high ranking SAPS officials, being an information peddler and his alleged role in corrupting the integrity of law enforcement.

Sibiya was testifying before Parliament’s ad hoc committee when he was asked about Mogotsi, who he knew as an ANC activist from North West.

He said he had informed national police commissioner Fannie Masemola about Mogotsi’s “strange calls” telling him to be careful about the Crime Intelligence that was following and listening to him.

“He (Masemola) said continue meeting him and where possible, you can even record. It did not go to the point where I recorded him,” said the deputy national commissioner, adding that he had continued to take Mogotsi’s calls.

Sibiya said what concerned him was the fact that Mogotsi was telling him about something he knew.

“Even if I am concerned the only thing I can do is to speak to the national commissioner or if he is involved with the deputy ministers.”

Asked whether it did not concern him that a civilian got crime intelligence information, Sibiya said: “It did not concern (me) because when someone comes to you with information that helps your cause, you do give attention to such information.”

He added that he could not be worried about the fact that the person that gave him the information was actually warning him to look over his back. “I can’t be worried about such.”

When ANC MP Xola Nqola said it should be concerning that crime intelligence information was known by a member of the public, Sibiya said the matter should be raised with intelligence structures.

“I am concerned if ever a member of the public will have information, in particular, documents that  belong to intelligence. It is a cause for concern.”

However, he said he had approached Masemola and Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo when he became aware of information from Mogotsi that warned him to watch his back.

“I used it to my advantage to make sure I survive,” he added.

Sibiya told the inquiry that he continued to communicate with Mogotsi, however, not on a daily basis.

“I am communicating not about issues of SAPS but general issues.’’

He denied being a “rogue police officer”, saying: “I have never been one in my 37 years in the service. I deny that and they must prove that."  

Asked about his meeting with tenderpreneur Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala regarding a supply chain management-related issue.

ANC MP Thokozile Sokhanyile asked why he did not refer him to a senior person in the supply chain management department or Masemola.

In his response, Sibiya said when a service provider is awarded a tender by the SAPS, which has gone past the supply chain management, the next level to complain was to the national commissioner.

“This is what he did. He went to the national commissioner of SAPS, which in that case I was acting in that capacity,” he said.

Cape Times