Johannesburg – Former South African Police Service Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, charged with rape, human trafficking and grooming, has been denied bail by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.
Sibiya, a central figure in the Madlanga Commission, was arrested on 21 September 2026 at The Grand Club, a strip joint in Sandton.
All in all, Sibiya faces charges including rape of an 18-year-old woman, sexual grooming of a 16-year-old girl, human trafficking, and a firearm-related offence.
He denies the grooming and kidnapping accusations but admits to having “consensual sex” with the 18-year-old.
Earlier this year in February, Sibiya was quizzed by the Madlanga Commission about, among other wrongdoing accusations, his links to crime-accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matalala.
Sibiya is being held at the Kgosi Mampuru Prison, a maximum-security facility in Pretoria, where Matlala is also an inmate.
Last week Sibiya resigned from the police while behind bars, but his employers insisted he had been dishonourably discharged.
Today, Sibiya’s hopes for freedom faded when Magistrate Hleziphi Mkhasibe pronounced: ”The finding of the court is that the applicant failed to show exceptional circumstances that permit the applicant’s release on bail”.
The black shirt he wore somehow symbolised the mood; things were looking bleak, Sibiya looked tired of the jailhouse, but the authorities still wanted him behind bars.
“Bail is denied,” the magistrate stated.
Having successfully opposed Sibiya’s bail, the prosecutor revealed that the investigation into the rape and sexual grooming matter was nearly complete and the trial could begin soon.
Sibiya was duly informed that he would remain in custody until the next court date, on 24 November 2026.
The dishonourably discharged former top cop cut a sorry figure as he was led back to the underground cell at the court.
He tried to smile at people in the public gallery. But he looked defeated. He didn’t even acknowledge his defence team.
Sibiya waved to people in the public gallery before he disappeared down the steps that lead to the cells below.
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