Top cop Sibiya faces rape, trafficking and grooming charges as bail hearing looms - IOL
Suspended senior police official Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya has appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on five charges, including rape, trafficking in persons and the alleged sexual grooming of a 16-year-old girl.
Suspended Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya has appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg, facing five charges, including rape, trafficking in persons and sexual grooming of a child.
Sibiya was arrested on Monday night by members of the Madlanga Commission’s Recommendations Task Team (CRTT) and appeared in court on Tuesday.
He is accused of sexually grooming a 16-year-old girl between July and August 2026, and raping an 18-year-old woman at a hotel in Sandton in May.
The charges relate to alleged incidents between May 16 and August 3 involving the adult woman and the 16-year-old.
The State alleges that Sibiya sexually groomed the child through electronic communication. He also faces a charge of trafficking in persons arising from allegations involving three people.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago told reporters outside court that the matter had been postponed to September 29 for a formal bail hearing.
“As we have said, it is a Schedule 6 offence because it involves a minor child. The charges are grooming a minor child, trafficking and rape,” Kganyago said.
Sibiya will remain in custody at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria until the bail proceedings.
Asked why Sibiya was being held at the correctional centre rather than a police station, Kganyago said the State had intelligence indicating that there was a possibility he could escape if held at a police station.
Sibiya did not plead to the charges on Tuesday.
“No, because the processes have not started. The application for bail will start afresh on the 29th of September,” Kganyago said.
The State will oppose bail, he said, citing the seriousness of the charges and concerns about the safety of witnesses.
“There is intimidation, there are threats. There is a voice note that was sent around at about 2 o’clock today, indicating that there are possible threats, and it could even be from the suspect himself,” Kganyago said.
He declined to disclose the number of witnesses in the case, saying the information was sensitive.
“But what I can tell you is there is a cabal of people who are working with him. It is not only the accused,” he said.
Kganyago said there might be further arrests and that investigators were looking for devices allegedly used for intimidation.
Some members of the media were initially prevented from entering the courtroom, despite having applied earlier in the morning to cover the proceedings.
Kganyago later apologised for the confusion, saying another matter was being heard in court and the media were expected to be allowed in once that case had concluded.
The State requested a seven-day postponement to allow for the enrolment and hearing of the formal bail application.
