The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that disciplinary proceedings against suspended Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya have not been halted, despite a separate urgent application in the Labour Court seeking to stop the internal case. The disciplinary hearing sat on Monday, 5 October 2026, and was postponed to 12 October to allow Sibiya to consult with his legal representatives. The Labour Court application, brought on the same day, was adjourned. The two matters are running side by side, and neither has switched the other off.
Sibiya, a veteran police officer who once served as Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, was arrested in September 2026 on allegations of grooming a teenager and raping an 18-year-old woman. He faces serious criminal charges, and the SAPS has initiated internal disciplinary proceedings in parallel with the criminal case. The decision to pursue both tracks reflects the SAPS’s stated commitment to holding its members accountable, regardless of rank.
The postponement of the disciplinary hearing to 12 October will allow Sibiya’s legal team to prepare his defence. The Labour Court application, meanwhile, is expected to be heard in the coming weeks, with Sibiya seeking an interdict to prevent the internal proceedings from continuing while the criminal case is pending. His legal team has argued that proceeding with the disciplinary hearing could prejudice his right to a fair trial and violate his employment rights.
The SAPS has rejected these arguments, insisting that the disciplinary process is independent of the criminal case and that it has a duty to maintain discipline within its ranks. “The internal proceedings are not a substitute for the criminal process, nor are they dependent on it,” a SAPS spokesperson said. “We will continue to act in accordance with the law and our internal policies.”
The case has drawn significant public attention, given Sibiya’s seniority and the nature of the allegations. It has also raised broader questions about the SAPS’s ability to police itself and the effectiveness of its disciplinary mechanisms. For Sibiya, the coming weeks will be critical, as he navigates both the criminal justice system and the internal disciplinary process. For the SAPS, the case is a test of its resolve to hold senior officials accountable, and to demonstrate that no one is above the law.
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