DA
Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya stunned Parliament’s ad hoc committee after admitting he took instructions from the police minister instead of the National Commissioner, breaching SAPS protocol. His testimony, marked by claims of leaks and political interference, deepened the crisis surrounding the police capture inquiry.
Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya appeared before Parliament’s ad hoc committee on Monday, where he admitted that he took instructions from the police minister instead of the National Commissioner — a statement that raised serious questions about political interference in the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Sibiya was called to testify before the committee investigating allegations of criminal infiltration, corruption and political capture within SAPS. His appearance followed a police raid at his Pretoria home last week, where investigators seized electronic devices as part of a case involving defeating the ends of justice.
Proceedings began later than expected after Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Glynnis Breytenbach raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest. Breytenbach pointed out that an MK Party member on the committee had laid a criminal complaint against Sibiya. MK Party members argued that if their colleague was to be recused, then DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard should also step aside, since KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi had previously accused her of leaking information to the media — an allegation she has denied.
Once the issue was settled, Sibiya took the oath and began answering questions from Chief Evidence Leader Norman Arendze SC, who questioned him about his role in the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, his relationship with businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, and his contact with activist Brown Mogotsi.
Sibiya told the committee that he met the police minister for the first time after his appointment. He said a letter dated 31 January 2025, announcing the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, was leaked to the media before it reached him officially.
“That letter was widely circulated in the media, but I never received it. If you check my emails, you will see I never saw it,” said Sibiya, adding that the leak caused confusion and damaged the credibility of the police.
Sibiya also described a heated exchange with KwaZulu-Natal commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who rebuked him for allegedly giving orders to provincial officers on behalf of the minister.
“When Mkhwanazi responded, he was fuming. He said, ‘Listen here, General Sibiya, you are not going to phone my province and order my people around.’ He reminded me that I don’t report to politicians,” Sibiya said.
He said he apologised to Mkhwanazi and explained that he was merely passing on instructions. “He told me no one is going to head office and said he does not report to politicians,” Sibiya testified.
Asked about his alleged contact with North West activist Brown Mogotsi, Sibiya said he did not know him personally.
“I know Brown Mogotsi as an activist in the North West. I Googled him and saw that he had been quoted in interviews, but I’ve never met him in person,” he said.
Sibiya explained that Mogotsi once called him to share information about alleged corruption and to warn him that “intelligence people” were working on him. “He said he was Brown. I didn’t know who he was, and I did not entertain him further,” Sibiya told the committee.
He added that his phone records would confirm that Mogotsi had called him.
Sibiya denied having any close relationship with businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who is in custody on several charges including attempted murder.
“We are not friends, but I was getting to know him. If I met him in my entire life, it was maybe five times or less,” he said.
Sibiya told MPs that his fallout with Mkhwanazi began when he requested an update on suspects arrested in connection with the murders of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane. He said he needed the report to brief the then police minister Bheki Cele.
In July, Mkhwanazi accused Sibiya and suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu of political capture and interference, and claimed the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team was part of a cover-up to protect criminal networks.
Sibiya also questioned the authenticity of WhatsApp messages allegedly extracted from Matlala’s cellphone, which suggested that Mogotsi had arranged a meeting between him and the minister. “I never met him to discuss such matters,” he said.
Meanwhile, Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told reporters on Monday that the Presidency was monitoring developments at both the ad hoc committee and the Madlanga Commission, and would in due course submit a formal response.
