Suspended SAPS Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya talks about internal factions in the police force during his testimony on Tuesday at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Suspended SAPS Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya testified about internal power struggles in the police force during his testimony on Tuesday at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Sibiya was responding to questions about "an apparent" war or factions within SAPS top management, following his earlier claims of waging war against the system and fighting for his career.
"We are at war. There are factions. I do agree. There are conflicts in the police that led to the situation where we are. This is what is unfortunately going on," he told the inquiry.
When asked to comment on the hostility he allegedly showed toward KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, he said: "There was no hostility."
He contradicted Mkhwanazi's statement during the July 6, 2025, media briefing, in which Mkhwanazi claimed that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu called for a meeting to broker peace between the two top cops.
According to Sibiya, Mkhwanazi requested the meeting in question.
"But, in that press briefing he said, 'Minister, there can never be peace between a policeman and a criminal'," he said.
He added that a week after the proposed meeting, Mkhwanazi invited him "in writing" to the police excellence awards.
"There was not really a conflict. I tried several times to make a relationship work... to build a relationship. I even sent Sergeant Nkosi to KZN to go, sit down with Mkhwanazi and say (to him) 'General wants to know why we are fighting."
Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, central to Sibiya's testimony, recently testified that Sibiya asked him to act as a go-between linking Sibiya to alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala. Sibiya, however, flatly denied asking Nkosi to be a middleman.
Sibiya said he sent Nkosi to Mkhwanazi because they are close and both are bikers.
Sibiya told the commission that he has two years left before retirement and does not want to spend his life embroiled in battles.
During the proceedings on Tuesday evening, he expressed frustration that he "feels helpless and pushed in a corner".
He told the commission that after Mkhwanazi's media briefing last year, his devices were confiscated, he was suspended, and he was never allowed access to anything.
"Now, I have been told by the commission (and) I don't mean by the chair, (but) by the evidence leader (Advocate Adila Hassim SC) that I had ample time," he said, expressing frustration that his testimony lacked information contained on the electronic devices seized by the police during a raid at his Centurion home in October last year.
He lashed out at the Political Task Killings Team under Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, saying: "After they take your devices, they see what is on your devices (and) they use them against you."
He further accused Hassim of being "a vicious advocate" defending Mkhwanazi.
"There is no good side of me that is being brought up from whatever I have because I don't have devices. I don't have anything. He (Mkhwanazi) got all the experts. He is still in the office. I am out there in the wilderness... So, quite honestly, the playing field is not level," Sibiya said.
He also cried foul over the line of questioning at the commission, saying he expected to be asked about his alleged links to the crime cartel; instead, he was questioned mainly about the WhatsApp chats between Nkosi and other parties.
Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga clarified that the commission first heard testimonies related to allegations of criminality and corruption against some people.
He said the commission is in the second phase, where those implicated are afforded a chance to respond to allegations and be cross-questioned.
The third phase will include calling back those who made allegations to also be put under cross-examination.
Sibiya's testimony was adjourned and would resume at a date to be announced by the commission.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za