Sibiya's Disciplinary Hearing On Hold

Suspended national deputy police commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya was served with a notice to attend disciplinary proceedings while being held in the cells at the Randburg magistrate’s court. The proceedings relate to matters raised at the Madlanga commission.

Sibiya is being detained at the Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria and is awaiting a bail decision in the sexual offences case he faces before the Randburg court. His lawyer, Adv Estelle Killian SC, said the defence intended to apply for a postponement of the disciplinary hearing.

At the Madlanga commission, WhatsApp messages have placed Sibiya at the centre of allegations involving the so-called Big Five criminal cartel. The commission has heard allegations that Sibiya reported to the alleged 'president' of the cartel, Jothan Msibi.

The cartel is said to have infiltrated the criminal justice system and used police as their runners. Their operations are believed to include drug distribution, human trafficking and contract killings, among others.

Sibiya has denied the allegations and will face another disciplinary hearing on November 2 and 6. He earns a gross monthly salary of R158 652, takes home R83,382, owns two properties worth R3.35 million, and five vehicles collectively valued at more than R1.2 million.

The state alleges that Sibiya raped an 18-year-old at a Sandton hotel in May after she had been plied with alcohol and lost consciousness. He is also accused of grooming a 16-year-old girl, possessing and sharing explicit images of her, and trafficking three people for sexual exploitation.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a four-point plan in response to the resurgence of incidents of gender-based violence and femicide. He acknowledged that his government hadn’t done enough since he first declared the GBV-F scourge a national disaster four years ago.