Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya placed on leave amid explosive allegations

Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, the deputy national commissioner for crime detection, has been requested to take a leave of absence, as tensions within the South African Police Service (SAPS) escalate following serious allegations regarding his conduct. 

On Tuesday, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola confirmed that Sibiya was served with documents directing him to stay at home.

"It's a leave of absence while we are doing internal processes...It's an investigation on what has been alleged," Masemola told the media.

This unexpected directive comes in the wake of provocative claims made two weeks ago by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi accused Sibiya of colluding with Brown Mogotsi, an information dealer from the North West, and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, in an alleged plot to disband the KZN political killings task team that has been at the centre of recent law enforcement efforts.

Meanwhile, Mchunu has been placed on special leave following the allegations.

In a statement on Sunday night, just minutes after being placed on a leave of absence by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mchunu said: “I welcome and respect the President’s decision and pledge my commitment to the process. Honour and integrity are the virtues I personally subscribe to and which we all need to make efforts to uphold.

“I stand ready to respond to the accusations against me and account to the citizens of the Republic, fully and honestly so.” 

A second statement, by the SAPS said: “The Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, will be taking a leave of absence from his official duties following serious allegations levelled against him by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS)."

On Sunday, President Ramaphosa established a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate Mkhwanazi’s claims and the acting Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga will chair the inquiry.

* This is a developing story 

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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