Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya Hits Back: Says Police Commissioner Masemola Approved Disbandment of Political Killings Task Team
Suspended deputy national commissioner for crime detection, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, has told Parliament that national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola was fully aware of and approved the decision to disband the political killings task team (PKTT).
Sibiya, testifying before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating alleged political interference and corruption within the criminal justice system, said Masemola knew as far back as November 2024 that the task team was never intended to be a permanent structure.
“The national commissioner was consulted, along with all other senior managers, and he never actually showed any objection to the disbandment. As a result, the process started,” Sibiya said.
He explained that before Masemola was consulted, a complaint had been received from members of the community and sent to KwaZulu-Natal violence monitor Professor Mary de Haas, who forwarded it to Parliament and suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu. Sibiya did not elaborate on the nature of the complaint.
Masemola, however, told the committee last week that he was not consulted before the task team was disbanded on December 31, saying he was on leave when the letter announcing the decision was circulated.
Sibiya countered that claim on Tuesday, insisting the meeting took place.
“I am repeating here on record, under oath, that there was a meeting held on the 27th of November where consultation was made with all stakeholders, in the presence of the national commissioner. The national commissioner saw that it was not a permanent structure and it was meant to evolve into a unit,” he said.
He added that after the official letter was sent, Masemola forwarded it to him to communicate the directive to the team.
‘No relationship’ with alleged criminal associates
Sibiya also faced tough questioning over his alleged connections to Brown Mogotsi, a known associate of suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu and attempted murder-accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Ad hoc committee member Sibonelo Nomvalo challenged Sibiya on his associations.
“As a police officer, are you not aware that you are easily accessible to people with questionable characters? Is that not a concern to you?” Nomvalo asked.
Sibiya denied any personal ties to Mogotsi or Matlala.
“I said that my relationship with Brown gave me valuable information,” Sibiya replied.
Nomvalo pushed back, pointing out that Sibiya had earlier said the same information was already in his possession.
“How can something that you know be valuable when it comes for the second time?” he asked.
Sibiya maintained there was nothing wrong with receiving the same information twice.
The 121 case dockets
Sibiya also confirmed that 121 case dockets had been removed from the task team’s possession after the decision to dissolve it.
“The removal of the dockets had to happen because a decision had been taken to disband the task team immediately,” he said.
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi revealed in a July 6 media briefing that the dockets were transferred to Sibiya’s office.
Sibiya told the committee that as deputy national commissioner, he was the “custodian of all dockets in the country”.
‘A battle for power’
DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach asked Sibiya whether Mkhwanazi’s press briefing had been motivated by a genuine attempt to expose corruption or was merely part of a leadership struggle within the SAPS.
Sibiya didn’t hesitate.
“The press conference was all about the succession battle,” he said.
“He (Mkhwanazi) is playing the country.”
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