Suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya appeared in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday for his bail application. His attorney, Estelle Kilian, stated that Sibiya denied raping an 18-year-old woman at a hotel in Sandton. According to Kilian, Sibiya claimed that the sex was consensual. The court heard that Sibiya and the woman, along with two others, had visited 'The Grand' strip club in Sandton.
The state alleges that Sibiya raped the 18-year-old woman at a Sandton hotel on May 16, 2026, while she was unconscious after being given alcohol. A charge sheet seen by the Independent Online states that Sibiya had taken the woman and two others to The Grand strip club, where he bought them food and plied them with liquor. The charge sheet further alleges that Sibiya continued to provide liquor to the group at the Garden Court Hotel.
According to the charge sheet, Sibiya raped the woman after she had passed out. When he left the hotel room, he allegedly boasted to the woman's friends that she was very nice and still a virgin. Sibiya is also facing charges of grooming a 16-year-old girl through WhatsApp between July and August 2026. The charge sheet alleges that he sent her nude photographs of herself and persuaded her to send videos of herself masturbating.
The State alleges that the 16-year-old girl's father, an associate of Sibiya, provided him with her contact details in July to arrange transport. Sibiya is accused of possessing and distributing sexual images of the girl. In addition to these charges, Sibiya is also accused of trafficking three people for sexual exploitation. The charges relate to alleged incidents between May 16 and August 3, 2026.
Sibiya's case has been postponed to Thursday, and he remains behind bars. His attorney, Estelle Kilian, presented his bail application in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday morning. The court will reconsider Sibiya's bail application on Thursday.
The Independent Online has learned that Sibiya's alleged crimes involve multiple victims and several incidents. The 18-year-old woman who alleges she was raped by Sibiya is one of several individuals involved in the case. Sibiya's alleged grooming of the 16-year-old girl through WhatsApp has also raised concerns about his interactions with minors.
Sibiya's case highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in South Africa, particularly in cases involving high-ranking officials. As a Deputy National Police Commissioner, Sibiya is expected to uphold the law and protect the public. His alleged crimes have sparked widespread concern and outrage, and his case will continue to be closely watched.
Key points
- Sibiya denies raping an 18-year-old woman, saying the sex was consensual.
- Sibiya is also accused of grooming a 16-year-old girl through WhatsApp and trafficking three people for sexual exploitation.
- The case has been postponed to Thursday, and Sibiya remains behind bars.
