Actor Siyabonga Shibe has spoken out after what was meant to be a relaxed night out in Bryanston, Johannesburg, turned into a frightening ordeal when he and a friend allegedly had their drinks spiked and their valuables stolen.
Shibe, 48, best known for his roles in Uzalo, Scandal! and Rockville, said the incident happened at a restaurant in the upmarket suburb, where they had gone to unwind. Instead, they left without their phones and a laptop — worth about R37,000 — and with a disturbing sense of how easily patrons can be targeted in social spaces.
The evening started ordinarily enough. Shibe told the Sunday Times that he and his friend had noticed three women at a different table when they arrived. The women, believed to be in their mid-30s, later approached them, asking for pictures before requesting to join their table.
“When we got there they were sitting at a different table, and one of them came to greet us and asked for a picture,” he said. “We spoke and socialised as normal.”
According to Shibe, the interaction initially felt harmless and typical of what he often experiences as a recognisable face on television. The women were friendly and appeared relaxed, and there was nothing in their behaviour at first to raise alarm.
He recalled that the women were dressed in bright colours, with one wearing a standout outfit that he remembered clearly.
He recalled that the women were dressed in bright clothing, with one wearing a distinctive floral dress.
As the evening went on, drinks were shared and photos were taken. Shibe said the women were drinking beer and that, as far as he could tell, they had bought their own drinks.
“They were drinking beer, and I think they bought it themselves. I was taking pictures with them and … when going to the bathroom, I left my drinks and bag with them. I carry a man-bag, and I put all my belongings in it.”
Inside the bag were his phone, his friend’s phone and a laptop. When he stepped away, he left all of it at the table, assuming it would be safe. That decision, he now believes, created the opening the women needed.
Shibe said there was a strong possibility their drinks had been tampered with.
Shibe said there was a strong possibility their drinks had been spiked, as both he and his friend later fell asleep in their car.
He and his friend later woke up in their vehicle, disorientated, with their devices gone. Looking back, Shibe says the sudden onset of drowsiness, combined with the theft, left him convinced that they had been drugged.
He also noted how fleeting the interaction had actually been, despite the apparent normality of the conversation.
“We didn’t have a deep conversation with them to a point where we established their names or the type of work they do,” he said.
The experience has prompted the seasoned actor to rethink how he engages with strangers in public, including fans who approach him for photographs.
Reflecting on the incident, Shibe admitted they should not have left their drinks unattended.
“We should have taken all our things with us, which is very rare because we are used to places where we trust the people around us. But nowadays it seems that’s the way things must be done, because you can’t trust anyone.” He warned others to be cautious about the people they interact with in social spaces.
“Now I can’t just socialise with people and enjoy a laugh after a hard day’s work. You have to be vigilant about who is next to you and why, and that type of thing is not part of the principle of ubuntu.”
Shibe has since opened a theft case with the police, not only in the hope of recovering the stolen items, but also to prevent his devices being misused.
He confirmed that the incident led to him opening a theft case with the police after the women allegedly stole their phones and a laptop valued at about R37,000.
Shibe said he opened a criminal case to prevent his stolen devices from potentially being used in further crimes.
“These things do happen because of the nature of our society. I hear about these things all the time it happens. But it would be really good for them to get caught, as things seem to point to a syndicate.”
Gauteng police have confirmed that a case has been registered.
Police spokesperson Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed a case of theft had been opened. “A case of theft was opened on April 20. No arrest has been made and the investigation is ongoing,” she said.
The incident comes against the backdrop of growing concern from law-enforcement authorities about drink-spiking schemes, often linked to organised criminal operations.
During the Easter period, the SAPS raised concerns over drink-spiking incidents at nightlife hotspots. In a statement shared on its social media platforms, the police warned that criminal syndicates were increasingly using young women to target men at taverns, nightclubs, concerts and other leisure venues.
According to that advisory, the methods described by Shibe mirror patterns already on the SAPS radar.
According to police, the syndicates operate in organised groups, with women sent into venues to identify potential victims while accomplices monitor movements nearby. Once a target is selected, the woman approaches and may suggest leaving together for another venue, home, hotel or guesthouse — during which time the victim’s drink is spiked.
In Shibe’s case, he and his friend did not leave the venue with the women, but the alleged pattern of being approached by a small group, socialising briefly and then possibly having drinks tampered with aligns with what authorities say is happening in many nightlife spots.
Police and safety groups have repeatedly urged patrons not to leave drinks unattended, not to accept drinks from strangers whose preparation they have not seen, and to remain cautious about sharing personal information or moving to secondary locations with people they have just met.
For Shibe, the incident has turned a familiar environment into a space of anxiety.
“Now I can’t just socialise with people and enjoy a laugh after a hard day’s work,” he said. Instead, he says, he is forced to weigh every interaction against the risk that it may not be as innocent as it appears.
Despite the shock, he continues to work, adding this experience to a life and career that has spanned more than 25 years in South Africa’s television and film industry.
Shibe has built a career of more than 25 years in the TV and film industry, appearing in several popular drama series.
His message now extends beyond his roles on screen: a cautionary reminder to be vigilant, even in places that feel safe, and to recognise that anyone can be targeted.
