The South African Police Service (SAPS) has clarified that a viral video showing a man making a 'throat-slicing' gesture during the bail hearing of suspended deputy national police commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya was an operational signal, not a threat. The video, which went viral on social media, showed the man in the public gallery making what appeared to be a throat-slitting motion. SAPS confirmed that the officer is a member of the Combat Team of the Commission's Recommendations Task Team (CRTT), which arrested Sibiya.
Sibiya appeared at the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday for a bail application on five charges, including rape, sexual grooming, and human trafficking. The state alleges that Sibiya raped an 18-year-old woman at a Sandton hotel on May 16 after she was given alcohol and lost consciousness. He is also accused of grooming a 16-year-old girl through WhatsApp between July and August, including possessing and sharing sexually explicit images of her. The teenager is the daughter of an associate of Sibiya.
The state further alleges that Sibiya trafficked three people for sexual exploitation. In his affidavit, read in court by his lawyer, Estelle Kilian SC, Sibiya denied the allegations. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the gestures seen in the video were operational in nature, intended to communicate to the investigating officer that protectors assigned to prosecutors and investigators should take up their positions and remain on standby.
Mathe explained that the interaction related to the coordination and positioning of SAPS personnel following the court proceedings. She emphasized that the gesture was not intended to convey a threat or instruction to interfere with court proceedings. SAPS acknowledges that the gestures may have caused concern or been open to misinterpretation when viewed in isolation.
The officer involved has been reminded of the importance of exercising caution when using non-verbal communication, particularly in sensitive public and court environments where gestures may easily be misunderstood or interpreted out of context. Meanwhile, state prosecutor Velile Makhasana requested a postponement to allow the state to prepare after receiving documents from the defence on Tuesday and to cross-examine Advocate Rashad Moosa, part of Sibiya's defence team.
The bail application was postponed to Thursday. During the proceedings, Sibiya's lawyer read an affidavit in which Sibiya denied the allegations. Sibiya will return to the Randburg Magistrates' Court on Thursday, where the state is expected to continue with the bail application. The case has garnered significant attention due to Sibiya's high-profile position and the nature of the charges against him.
Sibiya's case raises concerns about the conduct of law enforcement officials and the allegations of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. The SAPS has taken steps to clarify the viral video and emphasize that the gesture was not a threat. The postponement of the bail application allows the state to prepare its case and respond to the defence's submissions.
Key points
- SAPS clarifies that the viral 'throat-slicing' gesture was an operational signal, not a threat.
- Sibiya faces five charges, including rape, sexual grooming, and human trafficking.
- The bail application has been postponed to Thursday.
