SAPS sets date for Shadrack Sibiya disciplinary hearing

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe has confirmed that suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya will face an expeditious disciplinary hearing on 5 October over allegations arising from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Mathe said SAPS formally served Sibiya with notice of the hearing on Tuesday morning.

The hearing will go ahead whether Sibiya remains behind bars or secures bail before Monday.

“If he is still in custody, we will then organise with Correctional Services to allow that particular hearing to sit down in Kgosi Mampuru on the 5th of October,” Mathe said.

“If he is out on bail, the venue where this particular hearing will sit will be communicated to him.”

SAPS serves Sibiya with disciplinary notice

Mathe said a senior presiding officer formally served Sibiya with the notice on Tuesday.

She explained that SAPS regulations require the organisation to give him five days’ notice before the disciplinary hearing starts.

The announcement came hours after Sibiya raised separate disciplinary proceedings during his bail application in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.

In his affidavit, Sibiya argued that remaining in custody could prejudice his ability to prepare for and participate in those proceedings.

Mathe: New hearing follows Madlanga Commission allegations

Mathe clarified that the disciplinary hearing scheduled for 5 October follows an internal departmental investigation into allegations raised before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

She said SAPS had now completed that investigation.

Sibiya has previously faced five misconduct charges linked to his handling of the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team and its dockets. He disclosed those charges before the Madlanga Commission in February.

Mathe’s latest comments indicate that the 5 October hearing relates to a separate departmental investigation flowing from allegations aired at the Madlanga Commission.

SAPS invokes Regulation 9

Mathe described the 5 October process as an expeditious disciplinary hearing under Regulation 9.

She said SAPS was using that process because the allegations include corruption.

“I can confirm that it is an expeditious disciplinary hearing, which is Regulation 9, because allegations of corruption do fall under that category,” Mathe said.

She described the allegations as serious.

The Madlanga Commission has heard allegations linking Sibiya to controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and claims involving payments and criminal networks. Those claims remain allegations and have not been proven in court.

Hearing could sit inside Kgosi Mampuru

Sibiya currently remains at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre while his Schedule 6 bail application continues.

Mathe said custody will not stop the SAPS disciplinary process. If the court grants him bail before then, SAPS will communicate a different venue.

Sibiya’s criminal case and the SAPS disciplinary process remain separate.