Former South African Police Service (SAPS) head of organised crime, Major General Richard Shiburi, has been dismissed from the police service following the conclusion of internal disciplinary proceedings.
The dismissal was confirmed by SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, who said Shiburi was found guilty of misconduct related to conduct that brought the organisation into disrepute.
"Major General Shiburi was found guilty of misconduct relating to conduct that brought the organisation into disrepute, including associating himself with a known criminal," Mathe said.
The disciplinary outcome follows months of scrutiny after Shiburi's appearance before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in March, where he testified over four days regarding allegations of links to individuals associated with organised crime.
Central to the commission's investigation was a R70,000 payment Shiburi received from alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala. Shiburi maintained throughout his testimony that the money was a loan and not linked to any criminal activity.
However, members of the commission questioned the credibility of that explanation after evidence suggested that Shiburi and his son had access to sufficient funds at the time the loan was allegedly required.
Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga expressed doubt over the necessity of the loan, questioning why Shiburi had not used available funds instead.
Despite the criticism, Shiburi defended his actions, telling the commission that he had taken the loan out of convenience and was prepared to face any consequences arising from the decision.
He nevertheless acknowledged that accepting money from an individual facing serious criminal allegations was a mistake.
The commission also examined Shiburi's relationship with Matlala, who has been linked to several criminal investigations, including an attempted murder case. Shiburi admitted that he was aware of allegations against Matlala when he accepted the money.
Further testimony before the commission included allegations that Shiburi may have interfered in investigations related to the 2024 murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart. A protected witness claimed that Shiburi attempted to influence aspects of the investigation and warned officers about suspects involved in the matter.
Shiburi denied wrongdoing and suggested that some allegations against him may have been motivated by internal police dynamics, including possible promises of promotions to officers who provided adverse information about him.
The dismissal marks a significant fall from grace for one of SAPS's most senior crime-fighting officials and underscores growing concerns about the integrity of senior law enforcement figures.
While SAPS has not indicated whether criminal charges will follow, the police service said the decision reflects its commitment to accountability and maintaining public confidence in the organisation.
The Madlanga Commission continues to investigate allegations of corruption, interference in criminal investigations and links between law enforcement officials and organised crime networks.