The rape case against former deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya has been postponed to Thursday, with the state expected to continue its arguments against his release on bail.
The 59-year-old is facing charges including rape, sexual grooming of a minor, human trafficking, and the unlawful storage of firearms and ammunition.
During Wednesday’s proceedings at the Randburg Magistrates’ Court, state prosecutor Advocate Velile Makhasana questioned how Sibiya could believe that a 16-year-old girl was attracted to him.
“A 16-year-old telling their father that, ‘I have a crush on a 59-year-old’,” Makhasana stated.
“It doesn’t make sense. As I said, we are not dealing with a trial. When witnesses are called, the matters are going to be ventilated,” he added.
Makhasana said it was highly improbable that a 16-year-old girl would tell her father that she had a crush on a 59-year-old man unless the statement had been taken out of context.
The prosecutor also referred to allegations concerning the complainant, identified as MC, who is 18 years old.
According to the state’s account, MC allegedly passed out and later woke up during the night without her underwear, experiencing pain in her vagina and abdomen. Blood was also allegedly found on the floor.
The state referred to testimony from four witnesses as it outlined the circumstances surrounding the allegations. MC reportedly told the court that she did not know what had happened to her.
Sibiya remains in custody at the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility in Pretoria, where he is being held in solitary confinement.
The bail proceedings are expected to continue on Thursday.
