Suspended deputy national police commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya appeared in court for a bail application, where he faces five charges including rape, trafficking in persons, and sexual grooming of a 16-year-old girl. The state alleges that between July and August 2026, Sibiya exchanged communication with the teen, whose father is Sibiya's bodyguard, referred to as "Mr M" in court.
During the bail application at the Randburg magistrate's court, investigating officer Sgt Nokukhanya Ndlovu testified that Sibiya allegedly made threatening calls to Mr M. In one call, Sibiya said: "What are you busy with, do you know that it can take me a minute to wipe you and your family out?" The court heard that Mr M inferred that Sibiya was threatening him with that statement.
Ndlovu told the court that there is a likelihood that Sibiya would endanger the safety of others if released. She revealed that when Sibiya found out that Mr M had opened a case against him, he called Mr M and made the threatening statement. Sibiya also allegedly told Mr M that he had supported him and bought him food, and that if there was a person to deal with, Mr M was the easiest person to deal with.
The court also heard that an unknown person called Mr M, pretending to be the investigating officer, on September 19, a day after the inquiry into the matter became a criminal investigation. The person allegedly inquired if Mr M was the one who had opened the case against Sibiya. Additionally, Mr M received a call from a police officer close to Sibiya, who asked him: "Are you going to stand for what you have started?"
The state presented other events to demonstrate that Sibiya is likely to interfere with the case. A telephonic call made by Sibiya's ally, "Bishop" Azwihangwi Maumela, to Mr M after Sibiya's arrest was played in court. In the call, Maumela told Mr M that he had been told that when Sibiya allegedly raped a second victim, an 18-year-old, Mr M was present.
Ndlovu further testified that the 18-year-old was scared to open a case of rape because of Sibiya's status and was also scared of informing her parents. Maumela made utterances during interviews with the media on Sibiya's first appearance in court, saying: "We will retaliate," which the state flagged as a form of threat or intimidation. Maumela later withdrew the statement, and Sibiya has since distanced himself from Maumela.
Sibiya has denied the allegations levelled against him, describing them as unfounded. He claimed that Mr M had sent him explicit material involving the 16-year-old and that Mr M had told him that his daughter had a crush on him. Regarding the rape allegation, Sibiya told the court that he had met the 18-year-old at a hotel while she was in the company of her friends, and that he left the hotel.
Key points
- Sibiya faces five charges including rape, trafficking in persons, and sexual grooming of a 16-year-old girl.
- The state alleges that Sibiya made threatening calls to the father of the alleged victim, Mr M.
- Sibiya has denied all allegations, describing them as unfounded.
