Pakistani National Imran Butt Denies Trafficking Allegations, Accuses Shadrack Sibiya of Extortion
- One of the people implicated in suspended Deputy National Commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya’s testimony before the Madlanga Commission has spoken up
- Sibiya took the stand on 18 February 2026 to begin his testimony at the commission, which was set up to investigate corruption in the criminal justice system
- Imran Butt flatly denied allegations that he was involved in human trafficking and counterfeit goods and revealed a case he opened against Sibiya
- Briefly News spoke to criminologist Dr Tinyiku Ngoveni about the allegations against Sibiya
With 10 years’ experience, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk, South Africa, provided insights into the criminal justice system, crime statistics, commissions of inquiry, and high-profile cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.
Source: Facebook
GAUTENG — A Pakistani national, Imran Butt, not only denied that he was involved in human trafficking and dealing in counterfeit goods, but he also accused suspended Deputy National Commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya of extortion and other alleged crimes.
Butt spoke to Newzroom Afrika on 18 February, hours after Sibiya testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Tshwane, Gauteng. Sibiya accused Butt of running a human trafficking syndicate. Butt instead alleged that Sibiya was involved in human trafficking.
Pakistani national accuses Sibiya
Butt revealed that he had opened a case of fraud against Sibiya in 2015. He accused Sibiya of lying when he testified that Butt was investigated for human trafficking and insisted that it was the other way around: Sibiya was allegedly investigated for human trafficking.
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Butt remarked that the Hawks’ head office investigated Sibiya’s alleged involvement in human trafficking. He added that he has evidence he is willing to present before the commission, which was established on 13 July 2025. He said he was referred to Sibiya to complain about a threat to his life, but Sibiya did not attend to his complaint. However, he and Sibiya kept in touch.
Butt accuses Sibiya of various crimes
Butt further alleged that Sibiya started extorting money from him, but did not indicate when the extortion began. He admitted to making payments ranging from R1000 to R1 million for protection fees.
He also alleged that a case was opened against Sibiya for attempted murder and kidnapping. He alleged that Sibiya had been paid by the kingpin of human trafficking to assassinate him. Butt pointed out that Sibiya came to his house with bogus police and Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department officials to kidnap him.
Source: Facebook
“General Sibiya is not a police officer. He’s the biggest criminal,” he exclaimed.
Watch his interview on X here:
Butt allegedly poses with politicians
Yusuf Abramjee shared pictures allegedly from Butt’s social media accounts on his @Abramjee X account. The pictures show a man whom Abramjee alleged to be Butt posing with different high-ranking politicians, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, Fikile Mbalula, Panyaza Lesufi, Bheki Cele, Julius Malema, and Supra Mahumapelo.
View the pictures on X here:
Briefly News speaks to expert
Criminologist Dr Tinyiku Ngoveni, the University of South Africa's Chair of the School of Criminal Justice, spoke to Briefly News about the allegations.
"The issue and revelation of human trafficking that might be involving the very sophisticated cartel system is not something surprising, as the country continues witnessing several undocumented individuals entering and leaving the country.
"For example, the latest Russia saga, the landing of Palestinians at the OR Tambo International Airport. In 2024, 95 Libyans were nationals arrested at a secret military camp in Mpumalanga. The high-volume cases of missing South Africans and the internationals living with disabilities begging on South African roads, to mention a few, serve as situations of serious concern," he said.
South Africans stunned by Butt’s allegations
Social media users had a lot of questions to ask about Butt’s claims. Some alluded to the allegations that KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made against Sibiya on 6 July 2025.
Matter of Fact asked:
“Protection fee against what? What did he need protection from?”
Kwakhanya pointed out:
“The South African government, together with the opposition parties, has unleashed chaos in this country. Hence, it is silly to think that they have any intention of fixing it. In the absence of leadership, the people shall govern. Otherwise, we’re all doomed.”
Xolani Mamkeli shared a prediction:
“Sibiya is going down. My question is: why is he not arresting a kingpin who is smuggling Pakistanis?”
3no said:
“This Sibiya has a lot of enemies.”
TAC50 wondered:
“Do you, normal people in SA, get to speak to people directly at the head office, or is that privilege only reserved for foreigners?”
Sibiya slams MK Party
In a similar article, Briefly News reported that Sibiya accused the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party of humiliating him. He said MK Party MPs mistreated him during his appearance before the Ad Hoc Committee in Parliament.
He pointed out that the MK Party opened a case against him. MK Party supporters also marched against him at police headquarters and alleged that they threatened him.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
Tebogo Mokwena (Current Affairs editor) Tebogo Mokwena is the Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk and a current affairs writer at Briefly News. With a Diploma in Journalism from ALISON, he has a strong background in digital journalism, having completed training with the Google News Initiative. He began his career as a journalist at Daily Sun, where he worked for four years before becoming a sub-editor and journalist at Capricorn Post. He then joined Vutivi Business News in 2020 before moving to Briefly News in 2023.
Dr Tinyiku David Ngoveni (Chair of Department of Criminology and Security Science) Dr. Tinyiku David Ngoveni is a Senior Lecturer and Chair of the Criminology & Security Science Department at UNISA's School of Criminal Justice. With vast academic experience, he has contributed to Teaching & Learning, Research, Engaged Scholarship, and Academic Citizenship. His research focuses on a multi-disciplinary approach to safety and security, with notable publications on CPF and SAPS collaboration in crime prevention.
