Key Takeaways:
- Shadrack Sibiya, the deputy national police commissioner, has been suspended and is under investigation for alleged corruption and ties to organized crime syndicates.
- Sibiya’s downfall began with allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused him of colluding with Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to disband the political killings task team.
- Sibiya has denied the allegations and has accused Mkhwanazi of using his social media presence to shape public opinion and shield himself from scrutiny.
- The investigation has uncovered evidence of Sibiya’s close ties to Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, a businessman facing attempted murder charges, including audio recordings of Matlala allegedly making substantial cash payments to Sibiya.
- Sibiya’s career has been marked by controversy, including his dismissal from the Hawks in 2015 and investigations into alleged unlawful gratification and irregular expenditure during his time at the City of Johannesburg’s anti-corruption unit.
Introduction to the Controversy
The deputy national police commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya, has been at the center of one of the most explosive law enforcement controversies in democratic South Africa. His career, which once traced the classic arc of a hardened crime fighter rising through the ranks of the police service, has taken a dramatic turn downward. The controversy began on July 6, when KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made a stunning public allegation during a media briefing, accusing Sibiya of colluding with Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to disband the political killings task team, allegedly to shield organized crime syndicates from investigation.
The Allegations Against Sibiya
The allegations against Sibiya have been severe, with Mkhwanazi claiming that he had evidence of Sibiya’s involvement in corrupt activities. The claim ran across the policing landscape, immediately placing Sibiya under intense scrutiny. National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola subsequently placed Sibiya on suspension, pending an internal disciplinary inquiry. The investigation has since uncovered evidence of Sibiya’s close ties to Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, a businessman facing attempted murder charges. Audio recordings have been played in which Matlala allegedly told police that he had made substantial cash payments to Sibiya, including R300,000 for Sibiya’s son’s wedding and R2 million for a plot of land.
Sibiya’s Response to the Allegations
Sibiya has yet to testify fully before the commission, where he is expected to respond directly to the allegations. However, he has already appeared before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating criminality, political interference, and corruption within the justice system. There, Sibiya struck back at Mkhwanazi, accusing him of using his social media presence to shape public opinion and shield himself from scrutiny. Sibiya warned that such popularity could erode accountability within the police service, describing it as "a monster that no one is able to control." He also rejected the suggestion that he had ever operated outside the law, insisting that he had never been a rogue officer in his 37 years in the police.
Sibiya’s Career and Controversies
Sibiya’s career has long been marked by controversy. He rose through the ranks of the South African Police Service (Saps) to become Gauteng provincial head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) – the Hawks. However, in 2015, he was dismissed from the elite unit following allegations linked to the illegal rendition of Zimbabwean nationals during his tenure. Four years later, he resurfaced in local government as head of the City of Johannesburg’s anti-corruption unit, Group Forensics and Investigation Services (GFIS). That appointment, too, proved turbulent, with Sibiya facing investigations involving R3.5 million in alleged unlawful gratification and R580,000 in irregular expenditure linked to his time at the metro.
The Investigation and Its Implications
The investigation into Sibiya’s activities has been ongoing, with law enforcement officers raiding his Centurion home and seizing electronic devices in early October. The investigation has uncovered evidence of Sibiya’s close ties to Matlala, including the audio recordings of Matlala allegedly making substantial cash payments to Sibiya. The implications of the investigation are severe, with Sibiya’s career and reputation hanging in the balance. Whether the commission ultimately clears him or confirms the worst, the spectacle already marks one of the most dramatic falls from grace in South African policing history. As 2025 draws to a close, Sibiya now stands under multiple investigations, a once-powerful police officer reduced to defending his integrity amid a rising tide of evidence and testimony.
