Suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya is expected to return to the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for a formal bail application after the State indicated it would oppose his release in a case involving allegations of rape, human trafficking and the sexual grooming of a child.

The 59-year-old senior police officer was arrested on 21 September and made his first appearance in the same court the following day.

He faces five charges, including rape, trafficking in persons, promoting the sexual grooming of a child and two counts of sexual grooming of a child.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says the charges relate to alleged incidents between 16 May and 3 August 2026 involving an adult female complainant and a 16-year-old child.

According to the State, Sibiya allegedly sexually groomed the child through electronic communication. He is also accused of raping an 18-year-old woman and faces a trafficking charge relating to allegations involving three people.

Sibiya has not pleaded to the charges.

NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the State would oppose bail and would present its case in accordance with the applicable legal process.

“The State will oppose bail and present its case in accordance with the applicable legal process,” Kganyago said in announcing the postponement of the matter last week.

The prosecution is expected to place its concerns about possible interference with witnesses before the court as part of its opposition to bail.

During Sibiya’s first appearance, the State raised concerns about alleged threats against witnesses and victims. Prosecutors also told the court that intelligence indicated there was a possibility that Sibiya could escape if he was held at a police station.

He was subsequently remanded to Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria pending Tuesday’s proceedings. Kganyago confirmed that the move followed intelligence suggesting Sibiya could potentially escape if detained at a police facility.

The State has also raised allegations of possible interference involving people linked to the accused. Kganyago previously said there were threats and that investigators were looking into devices allegedly used to intimidate witnesses. He said further arrests had not been ruled out.

The bail hearing is expected to focus on whether Sibiya should remain in custody while investigations continue and whether the State has established grounds to oppose his release.

The charges are particularly serious because they include allegations involving a minor. Reports on the proceedings have indicated that the State is treating the matter under the applicable Schedule 6 provisions, meaning the accused would have to satisfy the court that exceptional circumstances exist warranting his release on bail.

The State’s case also includes allegations about events preceding the alleged rape of the 18-year-old.

According to the charge sheet reported from the first court appearance, Sibiya allegedly took the woman and her friend to The Grand, a strip club in Sandton, after telling them he was taking them to what he described as a “classy place”. The State alleges that he bought food and alcohol and that the woman later became intoxicated before the alleged rape at a Sandton hotel.

The charge sheet further alleges that Sibiya communicated with the 16-year-old electronically and sent sexually explicit material to her.

These remain allegations and will have to be tested through the criminal justice process.

The circumstances surrounding Sibiya’s arrest have also drawn attention because he was detained at a Sandton strip club.

Crime expert Chad Thomas, the CEO of IRS Forensic Investigations, recently discussed the issue publicly in relation to allegations involving the Sandton establishment and police officers. The discussion followed reports alleging that police officers used the venue as a hangout. SAPS has indicated that such allegations would have to be investigated.

Sibiya’s close associate, Dr Lazarus Maumela, has publicly defended him, describing the suspended senior officer as a “child of God” and arguing that he was being targeted in a succession battle. Maumela previously described the establishment where Sibiya was arrested as a restaurant, although subsequent reporting and the charge sheet identified it as The Grand, a Sandton strip club.

The case comes as Sibiya remains suspended from his position and as the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry continues examining allegations relating to policing, corruption and political interference within the criminal justice system.

However, Tuesday’s proceedings are focused specifically on bail and not on determining Sibiya’s guilt or innocence.

The court will hear the State’s reasons for opposing his release and the defence’s arguments for bail. Among the issues likely to feature are the seriousness of the charges, the safety of complainants and witnesses, the possibility of interference with the investigation and the State’s concerns about a potential escape.

The NPA has stressed that it will prosecute the matter without fear, favour or prejudice, regardless of Sibiya’s senior position within the police service.

For Sibiya, Tuesday’s hearing will be the first substantive test of whether he will remain behind bars while the investigation proceeds or be released under conditions determined by the court.