At the High Court in Pretoria, Shadrack Sibiya, the suspended Deputy National Commissioner for crime detection, faces off against National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola over the legality of his suspension. Sibiya is seeking a court declaration to overturn his suspension, arguing that it is unlawful and unjustified, in a bid to reclaim his position within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The crisis originated in July when Masemola suspended Sibiya, alleging that his actions led to the unlawful disbandment of the KwaZulu-Natal investigative team dedicated to tackling political killings—a sensitive and volatile issue in the region marked by ongoing violence and political strife. Sibiya, however, has vehemently denied the accusations, claiming that his suspension is based on unfounded allegations aimed at undermining his credibility and his commitment to fighting crime.
The KwaZulu-Natal team’s disbandment is contentious and remains a focal point of public interest, as its mission involved investigating heinous political killings that have plagued the area. Critics warn that dismantling such an essential investigative group could have dire consequences, potentially leading to a resurgence of politically motivated violence.
The court’s decision on Sibiya’s plea could set a significant precedent regarding the authority of police leadership and the treatment of senior officers within the SAPS, as well as the limitations of their power to enact suspensions.