South Africa’s police hierarchy was plunged into another crisis on Tuesday when suspended Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya appeared in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court facing allegations of rape, trafficking in persons and the sexual grooming of a 16-year-old child.
Sibiya, 59, appeared in court after his arrest by members of the Commissions Recommendations Task Team (CRTT), adding a deeply serious criminal case to a string of controversies that have already placed the senior police officer at the centre of the country’s battle over alleged political interference within the SAPS. He was arrested at a strip club in Sandton on Monday.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Sibiya faces five charges arising from alleged incidents between 16 May and 3 August 2026.
The charges include rape, trafficking in persons, promoting the sexual grooming of a child and two counts of sexual grooming of a child.
According to the State, the allegations involve an adult female complainant and a 16-year-old child.
The State alleges that Sibiya sexually groomed the child through electronic communication. He is also accused of rape involving the adult complainant.
The trafficking charge relates to allegations involving three people.
NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the State had asked for a seven-day postponement to allow the prosecution to enrol and prepare for a formal bail application.
The matter was postponed to 29 September, when the State will oppose bail.
“The NPA reiterates its commitment to prosecuting without fear, favour or prejudice, irrespective of the position or status of an accused person,” Kganyago said.
The charges represent a dramatic fall from grace for a police officer who has occupied one of the most powerful positions in South Africa’s criminal justice system.
Sibiya has been suspended since 2025, initially being placed on special leave in July following explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi had accused senior police figures of interfering with investigations into political killings and alleged that the KZN Political Killings Task Team had been undermined.
Sibiya was subsequently formally suspended in September 2025. He challenged the decision in court but failed in his bid to return to work.
The relationship between Sibiya and Mkhwanazi had deteriorated dramatically.
Sibiya later told Parliament that he had previously enjoyed a good working relationship with Mkhwanazi, but that it soured after disagreements linked to investigations, including the murder of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes. Sibiya said Mkhwanazi effectively barred him from operating in KwaZulu-Natal.
The feud became a defining feature of the wider police crisis.
When Sibiya appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in February 2026, he described the conflict inside the SAPS as a “factional war” and disputed allegations levelled against him by Mkhwanazi. (EWN)
Sibiya has consistently denied wrongdoing in the matters investigated by the commission.
The Madlanga inquiry subsequently heard evidence concerning the removal of 121 dockets from the political killings task team and Sibiya’s role in the handling of those investigations. He defended his actions while acknowledging procedural deviations.
In August, President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised criminal investigations flowing from recommendations of the Madlanga Commission concerning alleged criminal conduct involving Sibiya and others. The commission recommended disciplinary proceedings and criminal investigations where sufficient evidence existed.
Now, the senior officer faces an entirely different and deeply personal set of allegations.
Outside court, one of Sibiya’s supporters, Bishop Lazarus Maumela, defended him and suggested that the criminal case was connected to battles over the succession of senior positions within the SAPS.
Maumela described Sibiya as a “child of God” and disputed the allegations against him.
Maumela himself has previously faced allegations of inappropriate conduct.
In 2018, the Sunday World reported allegations by a married ANC supporter who accused Maumela of propositioning her and seeking a sexual relationship. Maumela declined to comment on the allegations at the time.
Maumela’s intervention comes as Sibiya’s supporters attempt to frame the latest criminal case within the bitter power struggles that have consumed the police service.
But the allegations before the Randburg court will have to be tested through the criminal justice process.
Earlier on Tuesday, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia condemned the allegations and stressed that seniority within the police service could not place anyone beyond scrutiny.
Cachalia said the allegations were particularly disturbing given the responsibility entrusted to a Lieutenant-General to protect the public, uphold the law and safeguard the rights and dignity of women and children.
He also linked the case to South Africa’s wider crisis of gender-based violence and femicide.
“The SAPS cannot credibly lead the fight against gender-based violence while turning a blind eye to allegations of such conduct within its own ranks,” Cachalia said.
He said allegations of sexual offences involving police officials must be investigated “without fear or favour”, regardless of rank.
The case now moves to its next critical stage.
On 29 September, prosecutors are expected to set out why they believe Sibiya should remain behind bars pending further proceedings.
For a police service already under intense scrutiny over allegations of political interference, corruption and internal power struggles, the prosecution of one of its most senior officers on allegations involving rape, trafficking and the grooming of a child represents another major test of institutional accountability.
