Bishop Azwihangwi Maumela Explains Presence During Shadrack Sibiya’s Arrest, Says Club Photos Are AI
- Bishop Azwihangwi Maumela appeared on the Podcast and Chill Network to discuss his presence at the scene of General Shadrack Sibiya's arrest
- Bishop Maumela admitted to being 'political' after a host pointed out that his account of events had shifted between interviews
- The bishop also addressed photos which suggested that he was at The Grand with Sibiya at the time of the senior police officer's arrest
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
GAUTENG — Bishop Azwihangwi Maumela has found himself at the centre of renewed scrutiny after a Podcast and Chill Network interview exposed apparent contradictions in his account of the circumstances surrounding the arrest of suspended National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya.
During the panel discussion, Maumela was questioned about his claim in a previous video clip, where he had described himself as eating inside the establishment, while in the same interview he placed himself outside when Sibiya was arrested.
Sibiya was arrested by members of the Commission's Recommendations Task Team at the infamous The Grand in Sandton on 21 September 2026.
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Maumela admits to being political
When pressed on the inconsistency, Maumela did not dispute it.
"I was being political," he told the hosts, without elaborating on what he meant.
The admission appeared to catch the panel off guard, with a follow-up question — "What do you mean by that?" — met with an evasive response.
Maumela described arriving at the scene at the same time as a convoy of expensive vehicles and said he had parked behind the group. He claimed he could see Sibiya being escorted out of the premises but was unable to confirm from his position whether the building was a hotel, restaurant, or the club that had been referenced in earlier reports.
He added that he had never visited the establishment and expressed an intention to inspect it personally. He noted that the area also housed a Pakistani and Chinese restaurant that he frequents, describing Chinese food as healthy and attributing his youthful appearance to the diet.
Bishop claims photos are AI-generated
Bishop Maumela also addressed claims that photographs showed him sitting at the club with the senior police officer. He explained that he wanted to come on the podcast to clear the air about the pictures, as they were doing damage to his reputation.
"I've never been in a club. I don't even drink alcohol. I don't go into such places. Yeah, not even a pub," he said.
He further claimed that the photo was fake because the cap and glasses in the photo were not the ones he wore.
"If you look at that picture that is trending and you look at this cap, you will see that here is open. There is this side here. It is not there. Secondly, if you look at these spectacles here, and this side and here, they are not the same. You know why? Because that is AI-generated," he claimed.
General Sibiya moved to Kgosi Mampuru over escape attempt allegations
Briefly News reported that General Sibiya appeared before the Randburg Magistrate's Court on 22 September 2026.
The State revealed that it was aware of reported escape attempts linked to the senior officer, leading to his move to a secure facility.
He was then moved to Kgosi Mampuru II Management Area, a large maximum- and medium-security prison in Pretoria.
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Source: Briefly News
