'Under siege' Sibiya decries early morning raid

SEVERAL electronic devices including laptops were seized when police raided the home of suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya in Centurion, Pretoria on Thursday. 

Sibiya has been under the spotlight since KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused him of being central to the removal the dockets the political killings task team was investigating when the unit was controversially disbanded. 

Sibiya, a controversial figure in law enforcement, is believed to be under investigation for alleged involvement in procurement irregularities and abuse of office within the police service. 

Speaking to journalists about the raid, he expressed feelings of betrayal and persecution. He described the operation as an unjustified siege and accused the SAPS of betraying him. 

“At least my police colleagues must think of my kids,” Sibiya said, emphasising the personal toll of the ongoing investigation.

“They took three or four laptops and there's nothing there. Every day we are under siege and helicopters fly around,” he said.

Sibiya acknowledged the strained relations within the police hierarchy. 

“I can see the anger in even Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, even when he speaks, you can tell the anger. But it is okay, let the process unfold, and we will meet on the other side,” he remarked.

He also called for transparency and fairness should an arrest be forthcoming. 

“If the police want to arrest me, it must be done fairly. Let them do it properly and not come to me at 3am. My life is in danger, and I was provided with security, but this is not done in good faith. They put people there to pass on information to others,” he stated.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the operation was part of ongoing investigations as publicised and mentioned at the ad hoc committee and the Madlanga Commission. 

“As SAPS, we are not aware of any person that has been arrested thus far and that includes Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya,” she said.

Sibiya’s legal team, led by attorney Ian Levitt, expressed concern over the public allegations against their client, particularly those by Mkhwanazi. 

Levitt indicated they are closely monitoring the situation due to the impact on Sibiya’s life and career.

The allegations stem from recent allegations at the Madlanga Commission and the parliamentary inquiry, where Mkhwanazi accused Sibiya of being involved in a syndicate allegedly obstructing police operations. 

During his testimony on Wednesday in Parliament, Mkhwanazi further claimed that Sibiya might be the actual author of a directive issued by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu last December to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

Speaking about the move to disband the unit, Masemola said on Thursday Mkhwanazi had contacted him while he was on leave expressing concern that the team had been dismantled.

On his return from his leave, Sibiya had presented him with a draft letter requesting his signature to implement the directive of the disbandment of the PKTT.

“I indicated to him I am not in agreement with this directive on immediate disbandment and if ever it was to be disbanded, there should be a phased winding down approach.”

He said repeated attempts to get reasons from Police Minister Senzo Mchunu did not yield results.

“I made sure every time (we spoke) I asked what was the reason for his decision. He could not give the reasons.”

It was only a month or so later that Mchunu gave a reason - saying that political killings were happening prior to 1994 and currently, murders were taking place and there was no need for a specific task team to look at politically related murders.

Cape Times