Staff Reporter
Former Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya has resigned from the South African Police Service (SAPS) with immediate effect, bringing an end to his police career as he remains in prison awaiting the outcome of his bail application on serious criminal charges.
SAPS said on Monday that Sibiya’s lawyer tendered his resignation shortly after disciplinary proceedings against him began.
“The disciplinary hearing against Lieutenant General Sibiya sat this morning, during which his legal representative tendered his resignation immediately after the disciplinary proceedings had commenced,” SAPS said.
“As the former senior officer had an ongoing disciplinary case against him at the time of his resignation, his departure from the Service is therefore regarded as a dishonourable discharge.”
Sibiya’s departure comes as he faces six criminal charges, including rape, human trafficking, sexual grooming involving a 16-year-old girl and a firearm-related offence.
The 59-year-old was arrested on 21 September and has been detained at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria while the State opposes his release on bail.
His bail application was postponed by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court last week and is scheduled to resume on Tuesday.
Sibiya has denied the criminal allegations, saying that his sexual encounter with an 18-year-old complainant was consensual. His legal team has argued that the prosecution is part of a campaign to destroy his career.
Separately, Sibiya has been implicated in allegations of corruption and interference in police investigations before the Madlanga Commission.
These include allegations that he improperly assisted alleged underworld figure Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, received cash and gifts, including 20 impalas, and shared confidential police information.
The commission has also examined his role in disbanding KwaZulu-Natal’s Political Killings Task Team and the removal of 121 investigation dockets from that team.
Sibiya conceded during testimony in February that the task team had been disbanded without a review of its work.
He has denied corruption and improper relationships with criminal figures.
The allegations arising from the commission formed part of the disciplinary proceedings he faced before resigning.
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