In brief
South Africa’s deputy police chief, Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya, resigned amidst a series of serious allegations. He faces charges of grooming a minor, raping an adult and human trafficking, while also being accused of ties to criminal syndicates. The charges emerged during the Madlanga Commission, a probe into police corruption and collusion with organised crime. Sibiya maintains that his conduct was consensual and denies the other accusations.
Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya, the deputy chief of South Africa’s police service, stepped down on Monday, three weeks after being formally charged with a series of sexual offences, the police service confirmed.
He faces allegations of grooming a 16‑year‑old girl, raping an 18‑year‑old woman and human trafficking. Sibiya says the act with the woman was consensual but denies all other accusations.
Charges also link Sibiya to organised crime bosses, a claim that underpinned his suspension last year during the Madlanga Commission – a nationwide inquiry into police corruption and collusion with criminal networks.
When the officer withdrew his resignation letter during his disciplinary hearing, police officials described his exit as a dishonourable discharge, noting he was still facing a disciplinary case.
The Madlanga Commission has exposed widespread allegations of police links to criminal syndicates in South Africa, raising concerns about the integrity of law‑enforcement structures. Sibiya’s case exemplifies the criminal‑corruption nexus the inquiry aims to untangle.
Source: BBC News
