Suspended deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya has denied allegations that he sexually groomed a 16-year-old girl and raped an 18-year-old woman, telling the Randburg Magistrates’ Court that the charges against him are “false and trumped up”.
Sibiya appeared in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 29 September, for his formal bail application. He remains in custody at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility after the court postponed the bail proceedings to Thursday, 1 October.
The postponement will allow the State more time to respond to evidence presented by a defence witness and to prepare for cross-examination.
Sibiya disputes explicit-video allegations
One of the central issues in the case concerns allegations involving a 16-year-old girl.
The State alleges that Sibiya sexually groomed the minor through electronic communication, including WhatsApp, and that he unlawfully possessed, displayed or distributed sexually explicit material involving the child. The charges relate to alleged incidents between July and August 2026.
Sibiya has denied that he distributed explicit videos to the minor.
According to evidence presented on his behalf, Sibiya told the court that the material was initially shown and forwarded to him by the girl’s father, referred to in court as Mr M.
Sibiya said the girl’s father had informed him that his daughter had a romantic interest in him and had forwarded correspondence and material relating to her.
He further claimed that he questioned Mr M about why he had shared such material concerning his daughter.
Sibiya also said the minor herself requested to view the video and that she subsequently provided additional videos to him.
He told the court that he then sent the material back to Mr M while attempting to establish more information about the videos.
These claims form part of Sibiya’s defence and have not been tested through a full trial.
Sibiya denies rape, says encounter was consensual
Sibiya also disputes the State’s allegation that he raped an 18-year-old woman.
The State alleges that the woman was raped at a Sandton hotel in May 2026 after she had allegedly become heavily intoxicated. The charge sheet previously presented in court alleges that Sibiya sexually penetrated her without her consent while she was incapacitated.
Sibiya’s version is different.
He told the court that he had consensual sexual intercourse with the 18-year-old and denied raping her.
He also disputed aspects of the State’s account of the evening, including the circumstances surrounding the young women and their visit to The Grand in Sandton.
Sibiya alleged that, on the day he had supper with the women at The Grand hotel, the 16-year-old girl’s father was also present.
He further claimed that the young women were wearing revealing clothing and appeared to have been drinking.
Those assertions are Sibiya’s account of events and remain allegations until tested in court.
The State’s case, as previously outlined in court, is that Sibiya took the young women to a Sandton venue, bought them food and alcohol, and that the 18-year-old was later allegedly raped while intoxicated.
‘My arrest was a diabolical plan’
In his evidence supporting his bail application, Sibiya strongly challenged the circumstances of his arrest and investigation.
“My arrest was a diabolical plan. Charges against me are false and trumped up,” he said.
Sibiya said he had been monitored by police officials before being taken to his property, where he was served with a search warrant.
He said the warrant was issued on 21 September 2026 and alleged that the search and seizure process was unlawful and unrelated to the charges he now faces.
According to the evidence presented in court, Sibiya said 14 police officials were attached to the Serious and Violent Crimes Investigation Unit in KwaZulu-Natal.
He also referred to former police minister Senzo Mchunu, saying Mchunu had also been a suspect in matters under investigation.
The validity of the search warrant is being challenged separately before a High Court.
Sibiya also expressed concern that the charge sheet was leaked to the media shortly after his arrest.
State seeks more time to cross-examine defence witness
Much of Tuesday’s proceedings focused on the amount of time the State required to deal with the defence evidence.
Advocate Moosa was presented as a defence witness, with the State indicating that it intended to cross-examine him.
State prosecutor Advocate Velile Makasana asked for sufficient time to conduct the cross-examination and indicated that the State also needed to consult with the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
The magistrate, Hleziphi Mkhasibe, questioned whether three hours would be sufficient.
The State indicated that it would not be enough, given the further consultations required.
Sibiya’s legal team, led by senior counsel Estelle Kilian SC, argued that the State should be ready to proceed and that the defence should not be restricted by the State’s preparation.
The court ultimately postponed the matter to Thursday, 1 October, allowing the prosecution additional time to consider the defence evidence.
Five charges and a Schedule 6 case
Sibiya faces five charges, including rape, trafficking in persons, promoting the sexual grooming of a child and two counts of sexual grooming of a child. The allegations concern a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman.
The National Prosecuting Authority has said it intends to oppose bail.
NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago previously said the State had concerns about possible witness interference and the possibility that Sibiya could evade custody if released under certain circumstances.
Because the case involves a minor and the charges fall within the applicable Schedule 6 framework, Sibiya faces a higher threshold in seeking bail.
He remains legally presumed innocent unless and until a court finds otherwise.
Sibiya cites family, health and disciplinary hearing
Sibiya also told the court that he is a father of four adult children and two minor children.
Although he said the children are not his direct dependants, he maintains that they remain financially reliant on him.
His spouse is employed, while Sibiya remains suspended from his position as a Lieutenant-General pending a disciplinary process.
His disciplinary hearing is scheduled for 2 to 6 November, during which he is expected to give oral evidence.
Sibiya’s legal team argued that his physical presence will be necessary for the disciplinary proceedings and that remaining in custody could prejudice his ability to participate.
He also told the court that he suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, and said being granted bail would allow him to obtain and take his medication.
Sibiya further argued that his release would not cause public shock and that he would not face a safety risk if released.
A senior police officer at the centre of multiple investigations
The criminal case comes as Sibiya remains a prominent figure in the broader investigations surrounding policing and allegations aired before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
He was arrested on 21 September by members of the Commission’s Recommendations Task Team and appeared in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court the following day. The matter was initially postponed to 29 September for the formal bail application.
The NPA has stressed that the prosecution will proceed according to the law regardless of the accused’s position or status.
The latest proceedings are therefore focused not on determining Sibiya’s guilt, but on whether he should be released on bail while the criminal case proceeds.
For now, Sibiya remains in custody. His bail application will resume on Thursday, 1 October, when the State is expected to continue responding to the defence evidence.
