Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya is a compelling, yet controversial, figure in South African law enforcement. His career spans nearly four decades. It features a steady ascent through the ranks of elite investigative units.
His high-stakes anti-corruption work and persistent involvement in legal and political battles have defined the turbulent South African criminal justice landscape.
Sibiya’s story clearly illustrates the political pressures and factionalism that plague key institutions like the South African Police Service (SAPS).
1. Elite Investigative Units Shaped His Early Career
Sibiya began his policing journey in his early twenties. He quickly built a foundation for a distinguished career in crime fighting and investigation.
- He Started as a Constable (Late 1980s): Sibiya formally began his police career as a student constable at the Hammanskraal Academy. This commitment to law enforcement ultimately lasted nearly four decades (Shadrack Sibiya – Wikipedia).
- He Gained International Experience with Interpol: His early work saw him become a Detective Captain in the National Central Bureau of Interpol Pretoria. Thus, he gained valuable experience in fighting transnational crime (City of Johannesburg, 11 November 2016).
- He Joined the Scorpions (2001-2009): Sibiya then became a key member of the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), or the Scorpions. This elite, multi-disciplinary agency appointed him Chief Special Investigator in the Free State branch. He then established its regional offices in the Free State and Northern Cape (Sunday Independent, 13 October 2025). This move signalled his active targeting of public sector corruption.
- He Secured Major Anti-Corruption Triumphs: Sibiya always embraced a “no fear or favour” philosophy in his work. He actively led the joint Anti-Corruption Task Team, which former President Thabo Mbeki established. The team investigated corruption in the civil service in Bisho, Eastern Cape. This operation resulted in over 1,000 arrests (City of Johannesburg, 11 November 2016). Furthermore, in 2005 in Mangaung (Free State), he arrested 25 high-profile individuals, including the Mayor and City Manager, on corruption charges (City of Johannesburg, 11 November 2016).
2. The Hawks Leadership and Rendition Scandal Marked a Turning Point
Sibiya moved to the new Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), or the Hawks. He attained one of his highest senior positions there. However, this also led to the first of his major legal battles.
- He Headed the Gauteng Hawks: Sibiya achieved the rank of Brigadier. He first led the Commercial Crimes Unit and later became the Provincial Head of the Hawks (DPCI) in Gauteng. Under his command, the Gauteng Provincial police, together with General Mzwandile Petros’s team, moved the province from ninth to first in the national crime performance rankings (Sunday Independent, 13 October 2025).
- He Investigated Richard Mdluli: During this period, Sibiya led a team that actively investigated former Crime Intelligence boss General Richard Mdluli. Sibiya later told Parliament this sensitive decision created powerful enemies within the police service (Sunday Independent, 13 October 2025).
- The ‘Illegal Rendition’ Case (2010-2015) Affected His Career: The most significant challenge to his work came from allegations involving the illegal rendition of Zimbabwean nationals in 2010/2011. This case led to his suspension and eventual dismissal from SAPS in 2015 (Shadrack Sibiya – Wikipedia).
- The Court Reinstated Him: Sibiya fiercely maintained that the charges were both baseless and politically motivated. He successfully challenged his dismissal in court. The Labour Court ruled his dismissal procedurally and substantively unfair. They ordered his reinstatement to the SAPS effective July 1, 2022 (News24, 16 May 2022; Shadrack Sibiya – Wikipedia). Importantly, a 2015 High Court judgment had already declared an earlier suspension unlawful. The court noted that the police’s own Integrity Unit and IPID had cleared Sibiya of any involvement in the rendition (SAFLII, 20 February 2015).
3. Anti-Corruption Work for the City of Johannesburg
While challenging his dismissal from SAPS, Sibiya moved into a key municipal role. He actively focused on local anti-corruption efforts.
- He Took a Role at GFIS (2016): In a highly-publicised move, Sibiya was appointed to head the Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS) for the City of Johannesburg in November 2016. Then-Mayor Herman Mashaba declared corruption “public enemy number one.” He explicitly chose Sibiya for his “integrity, experience, and courage” (City of Johannesburg, 11 November 2016).
- His Mandate Focused on Exposing Corruption: His immediate tasks required him to design and staff the new anti-corruption unit. He also had to review previous municipal investigations and actively probe all major tenders for irregularities (City of Johannesburg, 11 November 2016).
- The Public Protector Cleared His Appointment: His new appointment generated controversy in some political circles. However, Sibiya defended the process. He later stated he applied “in daylight” and the Public Protector found no wrongdoing regarding his hiring (Sunday Independent, 13 October 2025).
4. His Return to SAPS Triggered a New Crisis
Following his court-ordered reinstatement, Sibiya quickly reached the top command structure of the SAPS. But a new, politically charged crisis immediately enveloped him.
- He Became Deputy National Commissioner (2023): On July 1, 2023, the SAPS promoted Sibiya to Lieutenant-General. He became the Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection (Newsnote, 9 June 2023). This senior post made him directly responsible for detectives and crime detection across the entire country.
- The Mkhwanazi Allegations Led to Suspension (2025): In July 2025, a new storm erupted. KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made explosive public allegations. He claimed high-level police corruption and criminal syndicate infiltration into the justice system. Mkhwanazi directly implicated Sibiya (Shadrack Sibiya – Wikipedia).
- The Task Team Disbandment Became Central: The allegations primarily focused on Sibiya’s alleged unlawful disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team. They claimed he also removed 121 sensitive dockets to police headquarters (Inside Politic, 3 September 2025).
- Parliament Investigated Him: These claims resulted in Sibiya’s placement on special leave. His subsequent testimony became a focal point for a Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee and the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry (Shadrack Sibiya – Wikipedia). During his testimony, Sibiya denied any wrongdoing. He explicitly stated that a “succession battle” aimed to block his promotion (Daily Maverick, 14 October 2025).
- He Lost Legal Challenges to His Suspension: Sibiya legally challenged the National Commissioner’s leave order, arguing it was unlawful. However, the Pretoria High Court dismissed his application in September 2025. The court declined to overturn the decision while investigations continued (SAFLII, 9 September 2025; First Take SA, 9 September 2025).
- Police Raided His Home: In a dramatic turn, law enforcement units executed a raid on Sibiya’s home in October 2025. They seized electronic devices for forensic analysis. Sibiya strongly described the raid as an attempt to intimidate him (EWN, 9 October 2025).
