Shadrack Sibiya Challenges Solitary Confinement at Kgosi Mampuru C-Max Section

• Former Hawks head Shadrack Sibiya appeared in court Friday raising concerns about his placement in the C-Max section of Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre
• Sibiya's legal representative argued that a single cell within the general prison population would be sufficient and that isolation was unnecessary
• The investigating officer cited Sibiya's personal safety as the key reason for the C-Max transfer, telling the court that prison management had agreed to the arrangement

PRETORIA — Former Gauteng Hawks head Shadrack Sibiya used a court appearance on Friday to challenge the conditions of his detention at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre, where he has been held in the facility's C-Max section since his arrest more than a week ago.

According to Eyewitness News, Sibiya, who faces allegations of sexually grooming a 16-year-old girl and raping an 18-year-old woman, addressed the presiding magistrate directly, stating he could not understand why he had been placed in solitary confinement rather than housed with the general prison population.

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Sibiya's defence pushes back on isolation

His attorney, Estelle Kilian, argued that a single cell within the general section of the prison would be adequate and that there was no justification for separating Sibiya under current circumstances. Kilian told the court the arrangement was unnecessary and pushed for a change in his placement.

Investigating Officer Nokukhanya Ndlovu contested this position, telling the court that the decision to move Sibiya to C-Max was driven primarily by security considerations and concerns for his personal safety. Ndlovu added that prison management had sanctioned the isolation and that the conditions in which Sibiya was being held complied with human rights standards.

Case background and next steps

The state alleges that Sibiya exploited his seniority and standing within law enforcement to carry out the offences. As the former head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Gauteng, he oversaw several high-profile investigations during his tenure in the South African Police Service. His time in the SAPS was also marked by internal disciplinary hearings and related litigation.

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The magistrate remanded Sibiya in custody at the conclusion of Friday's proceedings. A formal bail application is expected to be brought by the defence at the next scheduled court appearance.

Sibiya denies rape charges

In a related article, Briefly News reported on Sibiya’s bail application and his denial of rape, child grooming, and human trafficking charges. His affidavit described the case against him as a coordinated scheme and set out his account of the allegations. Sibiya also claimed that his arrest was part of a “diabolical plan.”

Source: Briefly News