A decade after being unceremoniously ousted from one of the highest ranks in the South African Police Service (SAPS), former Deputy National Commissioner Dr. Leah Shibambo has broken her silence, revealing the profound personal and professional devastation caused by her abrupt dismissal.
In her first public interview, Shibambo recounted the moment she discovered her career was over—not through a formal meeting, but at a media conference in 2013. Then-National Commissioner Riah Phiyega announced Shibambo’s replacement without any prior warning, just hours after Shibambo received an SMS invitation to the event.
“What followed was even more painful,” Shibambo revealed. “I was treated like a person with leprosy.” For months, she continued to report to an office where she had no duties and was met with silence from former colleagues, a period she describes as isolating and deeply humiliating.
Her story, resurfacing amid current debates about police integrity, serves as a stark reminder of the political instability and alleged purge that have historically rocked the SAPS. Shibambo’s account suggests her firing was “unlawful and unfair,” a career cut short not by failure, but by a sudden, unexplained decision from the top.
The recent mention of her name in Parliament by Minister Bheki Cele, which she found “humbling,” also reopened old wounds, highlighting that for those affected, the consequences of such high-level dysfunction are lasting and deeply personal.
About The Author
