In brief
Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya resigned from his role as deputy police chief after three weeks on charges of sexual grooming, rape and trafficking. The allegations stem from claims that he sexually groomed a 16‑year‑old girl, raped an 18‑year‑old woman and trafficked a victim. Sibiya denies the charges, asserting the contact with the 18‑year‑old was consensual. His resignation was submitted at a disciplinary hearing following his arraignment, while his bail application was denied and he has been in custody. The case has drawn attention amid a broader police corruption inquiry, the Madlanga Commission, which has examined claims of bribery and illicit contracts involving Sibiya.
Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya, South Africa’s deputy police chief, has resigned after facing a battery of sexual offence and trafficking charges.
The charges, laid only weeks after Sibiya’s arrest, accuse him of grooming a 16‑year‑old and raping an 18‑year‑old woman, in addition to a separate trafficking allegation. He maintains that the alleged rapist encounter with the 18‑year‑old was consensual.
Sibiya’s resignation letter was submitted at a disciplinary hearing early Monday after a failure to secure bail. He has been held in custody since his arrest.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe described Sibiya’s departure as a “dishonourable discharge”, noting the seriousness of the allegations.
The case occurs amidst the ongoing Madlanga Commission, a public inquiry into police corruption that has already scrutinised claims of corrupt payments and lavish gifts in exchange for police contracts.
South Africa’s police force faces intense scrutiny, and Sibiya’s resignation is seen as a significant blow to the service’s credibility during a period of deep institutional investigation.
