Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya has taken legal action to overturn his suspension from the South African Police Service. Image: Gallo Images/Sowetan/Sandile Ndlovu.
(The Post News)– Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, currently suspended amid serious misconduct allegations, has filed an urgent application with the Gauteng High Court. Sibiya seeks to resume his duties as Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, a senior role overseeing crime investigations across South Africa.
Sibiya is disputing a directive issued by National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, which required him to take a leave of absence due to serious misconduct allegations. In his court application, Sibiya claims the instruction is unlawful and deviates from proper disciplinary procedures, denying him due process.
Earlier this month, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi publicly named Sibiya during a press conference in Durban. Mkhwanazi made explosive allegations suggesting that criminal networks may have infiltrated elements of South Africa’s criminal justice system, raising serious concerns about corruption.
In response, a commission of inquiry was established to investigate these claims. Both Sibiya and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who was also implicated, were asked to step aside while the investigation proceeds.
On Friday, News24 reported that Sibiya submitted his urgent application in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. He seeks to overturn Commissioner Masemola’s instruction that he “stay at home, pending an investigation.” Additionally, he requests an interdict preventing Masemola from initiating any parallel disciplinary action until the commission completes its work.
The legal challenge has intensified scrutiny of internal divisions within the South African Police Service and sparked wider concerns about transparency and accountability in handling senior leadership disputes.
A court ruling is expected in due course. As of publication, the South African Police Service had not issued a public response to the application.
journalist-thembeka@thepostnews.net
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