Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya has denied ever being declared a rogue police officer, telling Parliament’s ad hoc committee that such claims, reportedly made by National Commissioner Fannie Masemola, were false.
“I deny that,” Sibiya said on Tuesday, responding to a question from ANC MP Xola Nqola, who cited an alleged meeting between Masemola, General Khumalo, and the Minister of Police in which Sibiya was labeled a rogue officer.
“I’ve never been one in my 37 years working in the South African Police service,” he said.
The committee, which is investigating claims of political interference in policing structures, questioned Sibiya at length about a meeting he held with activist Brown Mogotsi at a hotel in Camps Bay.
Mogotsi had allegedly warned him of a plot to arrest him, reportedly involving senior intelligence officials.
Under questioning by Nqola, Sibiya initially said he was not concerned that a civilian had access to such information. He described Mogotsi’s approach as consistent with whistleblower activity.
“When someone comes to you with information that helps your cause, you do give attention to such information,” he said. “I cannot be worried about such.”
Nqola pushed back, saying this was not ordinary “community intelligence”, but internal information about SAPS and Crime Intelligence operations. Sibiya agreed: “This is different,” he said.
Pressed further, Sibiya eventually said: “Of course, I am concerned if ever a member of the public will have information, particularly documents, that belong to intelligence. It is a cause for concern.”
He told the committee that he used the warning to his advantage, saying, “I used it to my advantage to make sure that I survive.”
Sibiya confirmed he still communicates with Mogotsi, although “not on a daily basis” and “not about issues relating to the police service”.
He also claimed that coordinated disinformation had been used to portray him as under imminent arrest, citing online videos and media leaks.
“I have seen thousands of AI-generated TikTok messages about me,” he said, adding that journalists had written that “General Sibiya’s arrest is imminent.”
Sibiya also defended his contact with businessman and SAPS service provider Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala. He said Matlala had approached him to discuss difficulties with a tender at a police college.
”There was no issue because at that point in time, nobody knew about Mr Matlala’s involvement in any crime.”
The Deputy Commissioner also said it was common practice for police officials to engage stakeholders directly.
When asked if he knew where Matlala resided, Sibiya said, “No.” He was also questioned whether he had ever been to Matlala’ s homestead, to which he responded in the negative.
Politics
