By Mapaballo Borotho

- Former deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has been denied bail by the Randburg Magistrates Court.
- Magistrate Hleziphe Mkhasibe ruled that Sibiya had failed to establish exceptional circumstances warranting his release.
- The former police official also faces scrutiny over allegations of criminality and interference within the criminal justice system.
After weeks of explosives allegations against the former deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, the Randburg Magistrates Court has denied him bail.
Magistrate Hleziphe Mkhasibe said the interests of justice did not permit his release on bail.
Mkhasibe questioned the argument that the State did not have a strong case against Sibiya, adding that he had failed to prove exceptional circumstances warranting his release.
The embattled former police official appeared before the Randburg Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning, 20 October 2026.
Sibiya is facing five charges, including sexual grooming, trafficking in persons and rape. He is accused of sexually grooming a 16-year-old girl and raping an 18-year-old woman.
The alleged incidents reportedly took place between May and August 2026, with the alleged rape said to have occurred at a Sandton hotel in May.
He was arrested last month at a strip club in Sandton by the Madlanga Commission’s Recommendations Task Team (CRTT).
Sibiya has dismissed the sexual offence allegations against him, claiming that a faction within the South African Police Service (SAPS) is framing him.
Before his resignation from the police force, Sibiya said some police officers were frustrated that no criminal charges had been brought against him following his appearance before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
He claimed this was the reason he was now facing what he described as trumped-up charges, which he believes are intended to humiliate him and result in his removal from SAPS.
Long-overdue resignation
Sibiya has since resigned from SAPS before the disciplinary hearing against him could proceed.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed last week that Sibiya’s resignation followed the commencement of his disciplinary proceedings.
“The disciplinary hearing against Lieutenant General Sibiya sat this morning, during which his legal representative tendered his resignation immediately after the disciplinary proceedings had commenced.
As the former senior officer had an ongoing disciplinary case against him at the time of his resignation, his departure from the Service is therefore regarded as a dishonourable discharge,” Mathe said.
Mathe confirmed that Sibiya’s employment with the Service had been terminated with immediate effect.
Madlanga Commission testimony
Sibiya has also faced scrutiny over allegations raised during investigations into alleged criminality, corruption and interference within South Africa’s criminal justice system.
The former senior police official was accused of colluding with suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), allegedly to shield organised crime syndicates from investigation.
Testimony before the Madlanga Commission has also drawn attention to Sibiya’s alleged close ties to controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who is facing several criminal charges.
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