Heavily armed police officers, including those from the esteemed National Intervention Unit, executed a search-and-seizure operation at the Centurion residence of suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya on Thursday afternoon. The operation has raised eyebrows, with initial reports suggesting it was intended for an arrest; however, officials later confirmed it solely involved searching for evidence linked to ongoing corruption allegations against Sibiya.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, no arrests have been made as of yet. “As SAPS, we are not aware of any person who has been arrested thus far, and that includes Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya,” she stated, while meanwhile, Sibiya arrived at his home accompanied by his attorney, Ian Levitt, amid a visible police presence that had already secured the premises.
The raid is in connection with serious allegations of misconduct that have surfaced against Sibiya, particularly those outlining claims of criminal infiltration within the South African Police Service (SAPS). This was underscored during a recent parliamentary session where KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi answered queries regarding the troubling extent of these alleged criminal ties. While Mkhwanazi expressed he has not yet provided concrete evidence of corruption linking Sibiya to these actions, he labelled the deputy commissioner an “enabler” of nefarious activities within the police force.
Mkhwanazi’s remarks come in the wake of a parliamentary briefing on 6 July, which entailed allegations suggesting a conspiracy involving Sibiya, suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, and others, purportedly aimed at obstructing the vital work of the Political Killings Task Team. Sibiya has faced increasing pressure since his suspension from active duty, which was formalised in September after a failed High Court attempt to nullify the directive against him staying home.
In a remarkable twist, Mkhwanazi has indicated that a number of police officers have been providing critical information related to the case, effectively turning against those they once collaborated with. “He has not been working alone,” Mkhwanazi noted, hinting at broader issues within the police body itself. Evidence in question reportedly includes property acquisitions and financial transactions suspiciously linked to these high-ranking officials.
As the operation unfolded, numerous media outlets gathered outside Sibiya’s residence, eagerly awaiting updates on both the raid and the subsequent legal implications for those involved. Meanwhile, Mchunu’s chief of staff has scheduled a press briefing to address queries regarding the investigation.