National Deputy Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, on Tuesday contradicted National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola’s claims that there was no consultation prior to the controversial disbanding of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
Testifying before the parliamentary inquiry into allegations of political interference in the police, Sibiya said there was a meeting held in November between Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and police top brass after complaints against the PKTT were received.
“In this meeting General Masemola actually intimated that the task team was not meant to be a permanent unit.
“The National Commissioner consulted with all senior managers and he never (was) against the disbandment, as result the process started,” he said.
Sibiya said he had participated in the disbandment process because he received instruction from Masemola’s office after Mchunu issued the controversial directive on 31 December 2024.
The Ad Hoc Committee is investigating allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial head Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi – both Mkhwanazi and Masemola have told the inquiry that the PKTT was successful and they were surprised that Mchunu had taken a decision to disband it.
Mkhwanazi said Sibiya had his own intentions in disbanding the PKTT as he was concerned that its investigations would overlap into Gauteng as he claimed that Sibiya was motivated by protecting criminals syndicates in that province.
Responding to questions from DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach, Sibiya claimed that there is a succession battle in SAPS and this was the reason behind Mkhwanazi holding his press briefing on July 6.
He said that Masemola was due to retire soon and there is a fight to replace him.
“According to me, it is about the succession battle in the police,” he said.
“This whole thing is meant to block me,” said Sibiya.
He said he had previously given an interview to the media when he was asked whether he was interested to be the head of the Hawks after Godfrey Lebeya left office.
Papers had run a story suggesting the race was between him, Mkhwanazi and Deputy National Commissioner Tebello Mosikili and thereafter Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo was arrested.
“I began to hear that I had something to do with that arrest.”
He suggested that his career ambitions had made him a target.
Sibiya also said there were also reports that Masemola was to be arrested and the press conference was a preemptive strike by Mkhwanazi.
“This was preemptive. People of South Africa are being taken for a ride that this (issue) is about the disbandment or dockets.”
He accused Mkhwanazi of playing the country and those who cared to listen to him.
“He knows what to play with and as such that the country is moved.”
He said Mkhwanazi has powerful investment in social media and ‘had even threatened MPs that if they touch Crime Intelligence members, they would fight back’.
“We are creating a monster which no one will control. We can’t allow, as a country, such a situation to continue,” Sibiya said.
Earlier, Sibiya denied that he was a rogue police officer.
“I have never been one in my 37 years in the service. I deny that and they must prove that,” Sibiya said.
Sibiya was also quizzed by MPs on his relationship with controversial business people.
He was asked about his meeting with tenderpreneur Vusimuzi Cat Matlala regarding a supply chain management-related issue.
ANC MP Thokozile Sokhanyile asked why he did not ask a senior person in supply chain management or Masemola to attend this meeting.
Sibiya said when a service provider is awarded a tender by the SAPS and it has gone past the supply chain management, the next level to deal with the complaint is the national commissioner.
“This is what he did. He went to the National Commissioner of SAPS, and I was acting in that capacity,” he said.
Asked about Brown Mogotsi, whom he knew as an ANC activist from the North West province, Sibiya said he had informed Masemola that Mogotsi had reached out to him with strange calls telling him to be careful as the Crime Intelligence unit was following him and listening to him.
Mogotsi is a controversial figure linked to the now-suspended Mchunu.
“He (Masemola) said I should continue meeting him and where possible to record (the discussions). It did not go to the point where I recorded him,” said Sibiya.
Sibiya said what concerned him was the fact that Mogotsi was providing him with intelligence that he was already aware of.
Pressed on whether it did not concern him that a civilian had access to crime intelligence information, Sibiya said: “It did not concern me because when someone comes to you with information that helps your cause, you give attention to such information.”
When pressed on crime intelligence information being known by a member of the public, Sibiya said the matter should be raised with intelligence structures.
“I am concerned if ever a member of the public has information, in particular, documents that belongs to intelligence. It is a cause for concern.”
However, he said he had approached Masemola and Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo when Mogotsi had provided him with information.
“I used it to my advantage, to make sure I survive,” he added.
Sibiya told the inquiry that he continued to communicate with Mogotsi, however, not on a daily basis.
