Civil Society Condemns SAPS Leadership After Rape Charges Against Shadrack Sibiya

• Anti-GBV organisations slammed senior SAPS leadership after rape allegations emerged against suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya
• Sibiya, who appeared in court seeking R20,000 bail, claimed his arrest was a 'well-orchestrated, diabolical plan' based on fabricated charges
• The state opposed bail, and the matter was postponed to Thursday, with a disciplinary hearing linked to Madlanga Commission findings also looming on 5 October

GAUTENG— The top brass of the South African Police Service is facing scathing backlash from civil society and anti-gender-based violence groups following rape charges against suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.

According to SowetanLIVE, rights organizations warned that the gravity of the allegations against a high-ranking officer further damages community trust in law enforcement's commitment to fighting gender-based violence. Speaking outside court, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe assured the public that police remain in solidarity with victims as the judicial system proceeds.

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Shadrack Sibiya served with disciplinary notice as suspended Deputy Commissioner remains behind bars

View Mathe discussing the case on X:

The allegations against Sibiya

Prosecutors allege Sibiya brought an 18-year-old complainant and her companions to a club in Sandton before raping her at a hotel after she became severely intoxicated. Replying through a bail affidavit, Sibiya refuted the charges, claiming the acts were consensual and occurred after other individuals departed the room.

He denounced his 21 September apprehension at The Grand Club in Rivonia as a fabricated conspiracy to jail him on false grounds, noting authorities confiscated his licensed 9mm Uzi self-loading carbine and ammunition.

Bail application opposed, hearing postponed

Requesting release on R20,000 bail, Sibiya argued that custody disadvantages his family and interferes with preparation for his 5 October disciplinary hearing regarding Madlanga commission corruption claims. The state opposed the application, leading the court to postpone proceedings to 1 October for a bail ruling.

NDPP withdraws Fannie Masemola charges

In a related article, Briefly News reported on National Director of Public Prosecutions Andy Mothibi’s instruction to withdraw the charges against suspended National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola. The charges related to a R360 million police tender awarded to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

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Shadrack Sibiya denies rape, grooming and trafficking charges, says his arrest was a diabolical plan

Masemola had faced charges under the Public Finance Management Act and has maintained his innocence. The decision to drop the charges came less than three weeks after Mothibi appointed a panel to review the case.

Source: Briefly News