Shadrack Sibiya, a former deputy national police commissioner, has been charged with raping an 18‑year‑old woman and grooming a 16‑year‑old girl. The case comes amid growing scrutiny of South Africa’s police force, which has faced accusations of corruption and a failure to address violence against women and girls.
Sibiya was arrested on Monday after being suspended for allegedly interfering with investigations into political killings. He faces charges of rape, people trafficking, promoting the sexual grooming of a child and two counts of grooming a child. He appeared briefly in a Johannesburg court on Tuesday, was taken to prison in Pretoria, and is scheduled for a bail hearing on 29 September, with prosecutors arguing he poses an escape risk.
The allegations are part of a broader investigation by the Madlanga Commission, which has been examining corruption and criminality within the police for the past year. The country has also been shaken by the discovery of nine women’s bodies in Ekurhuleni, the municipality east of Johannesburg, and by reports of political killings investigations being moved to the national head office.
Puleng Dimpane, the acting national police commissioner, said that police officers must protect women and children and cannot be implicated in conduct that undermines that responsibility. Acting police minister Firoz Cachalia condemned the alleged conduct and called for investigations without fear or favour. Sibiya denied the allegations when he appeared before the Madlanga Commission in February and again in August, and his lawyer said he had not entered a plea because more time was needed. He also denied receiving a gift of 20 impalas from businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who has been charged with multiple offences.
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