Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya, 59, has resigned from his position as South Africa’s deputy police chief three weeks after his arrest on sexual offence charges. His lawyer submitted the resignation letter during a disciplinary hearing on Monday. The departure has been classified as a dishonourable discharge by police authorities, given that Sibiya was still facing an active disciplinary case at the time of his resignation.
Sibiya faces multiple serious allegations, including charges related to the sexual grooming of a minor and rape involving an adult woman. He is also accused of human trafficking and has been in custody since his arrest. While he denies the sexual grooming and rape charges, Sibiya acknowledges having consensual relations with the 18-year-old woman involved in one of the cases.
The deputy police chief’s legal troubles stem partly from his testimony before the Madlanga Commission, a major public inquiry investigating allegations of police corruption and collusion with organised crime. At that inquiry, Sibiya faced accusations that he maintained links to crime bosses and interfered with investigations into political killings in KwaZulu-Natal province. He was also alleged to have received cash and livestock from a criminal kingpin in exchange for facilitating a police contract, charges which he denied. These accusations led to his suspension from the police force during the previous year.
The Madlanga Commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa following a public controversy involving the former KwaZulu-Natal police chief, who accused then-Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of working with criminal organisations. Mchunu has denied those allegations but remains suspended. The inquiry has exposed extensive claims of relationships between law enforcement officials and criminal elements throughout South Africa.
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