Suspended SAPS Organised Crime Chief Denies Bribery Allegations During Madlanga Commission Testimony Regarding Crime Cartel

Suspended SAPS head Richard Shibiri denies bribery claims at the Madlanga Commission, alleging he was planning a sting operation against a crime cartel.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 11:31 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from EyeWitness News

The Conflict of Evidence at the Madlanga Commission

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has become a focal point for allegations of deep-seated corruption within the South African Police Service, most recently centered on the testimony of Richard Shibiri. The suspended head of the SAPS organised crime unit appeared before the commission on Thursday to address damaging statements made by two protected witnesses. Known only as Witness A and Witness B, the officers previously testified that Shibiri had summoned them to his office to discuss the availability of cash envelopes intended for investigators. This conflicting testimony places the commission at a crossroads between allegations of top-level bribery and a defense built on undercover operational strategy.

The Case of the Vereeniging Engineer Murder

The bribery allegations are inextricably linked to a high-profile investigation into the murder of Armand Swart, a Vereeniging engineer. At the time of the alleged meeting in Shibiri’s office, Witness A and Witness B were actively pursuing a case against Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe, a man suspected of leading a significant crime cartel. The sensitivity of the Swart murder investigation provided the backdrop for the alleged bribe, with the commission exploring whether the offer was an attempt to derail the prosecution of a major criminal figure. Shibiri’s involvement in the administrative oversight of this specific unit has brought his motives under intense legislative and public scrutiny.

A Defense Founded on Sting Operation Intentions

In a firm rebuttal of the corruption narrative, Shibiri contended that his actions were entirely consistent with his duty to protect the integrity of the investigation. He argued that his mention of money was not an offer but a warning based on intelligence he had received regarding an impending attempt to compromise the officers. According to Shibiri, he was in the early stages of organizing a sting operation designed to entrap the cartel members attempting to influence the police. He maintained that the officers misinterpreted a strategic briefing as an invitation to participate in illegal activity, claiming that his goal was to arrest the bribe-givers.