Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya defends his integrity during parliamentary inquiry
Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
SUSPENDED South African Police Service (SAPS) National Deputy Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, firmly defended his integrity during a parliamentary inquiry on Tuesday, positioning himself against allegations of being a “rogue police officer.”
On the second day of his testimony, Sibiya spoke out decisively, asserting, “I have never been one in my 37 years in the service. I deny that and they must prove that.”
The inquiry, which aims to probe allegations raised by KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has scrutinised Sibiya’s involvement in various contentious matters.
One significant point raised during the hearing included a meeting with tenderpreneur Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala.
where Sibiya was questioned by ANC MP Thokozile Sokhanyile about why he did not escalate the matter to a higher authority, such as the national commissioner, General Fannie Masemola.
Sibiya clarified his actions, stating, “When a service provider is awarded a tender by the SAPS, which has gone past the supply chain management, the next level to complain was to the national commissioner.”
He concluded that as an acting national commissioner at the time, his role necessitated such interactions.
An interesting turn in the testimony came when Sibiya discussed his contact with ANC activist Brown Mogotsi, who had provided him with warnings about Crime Intelligence surveilling him.
He revealed to the inquiry that Masemola had advised him to continue engaging with Mogotsi and, where possible, to record their conversations.
Although Sibiya did not ultimately document their exchanges, he acknowledged the importance of Mogotsi’s warnings, saying, “This is what concerned me — the fact that Mogotsi was telling me about something he knew.”
When pressed by ANC MP Xola Nqola on whether it was alarming for a civilian to possess sensitive Crime Intelligence information, Sibiya maintained that the content of the information was substantial enough for him to take heed, stating, “It did not concern me because when someone comes to you with information that helps your cause, you do give attention to such information.”
Furthermore, Sibiya addressed the seriousness of the situation, acknowledging that the potential for a member of the public to have access to confidential intelligence documents was indeed troubling and warranted further discussion with intelligence structures.
In light of the allegations and scrutiny levied against him, Sibiya expressed that he had reported Mogotsi’s information to both Masemola and Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo, reframing the narrative around his actions as a means of ensuring his safety within the tumultuous landscape of Crime Intelligence.
“I used it to my advantage to make sure I survive,” he asserted, adding that while he maintained communication with Mogotsi, it did not pertain to SAPS issues but rather to general discussions.