By Joe Udo
CAPE TOWN (CONVERSEER) – Suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya has broken his silence, offering his version of events surrounding his fallout with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. He claims their once-strong relationship deteriorated after the high-profile arrests in the murder case of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, a development that has since exposed deep fractures within South Africa’s policing hierarchy.
Sibiya appeared before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee on 13 October 2025 to address allegations that he overstepped his authority, interfered in provincial operations, and played a role in attempts to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). It was his first public testimony on the matter, shedding light on internal tensions that have fuelled concerns about chain of command breakdowns, political interference, and operational rifts at senior levels of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The committee, established to investigate criminal infiltration within the justice system, has already heard evidence from Mkhwanazi and National Commissioner Fannie Masemola. Sibiya’s testimony offered a counter-narrative that traced the origins of their conflict to the February 2023 arrests of suspects in the AKA and Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane murder case.
Turning Point: AKA Murder Investigation
According to Sibiya, his working relationship with Mkhwanazi had been cooperative and cordial until he sought updates on the investigation by contacting a KwaZulu-Natal subordinate rather than the provincial commissioner directly. This, he said, angered Mkhwanazi, who responded by asserting his constitutional authority over the province and declaring that Sibiya “had nothing to do with KZN” henceforth.
This incident, Sibiya explained, marked a shift from collaboration to hostility. “I didn’t see it coming,” he told the committee, recalling their friendly interactions just days before Mkhwanazi’s public press briefing on 6 July 2025, where allegations against him and suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu were aired.
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Sibiya maintained that the arrests represented a strategic breakthrough in the fight against organised crime, revealing cracks in operational coordination between national and provincial structures. The AKA murder trial, which is ongoing in Durban, involves seven accused facing charges including murder and conspiracy. Investigations have uncovered alleged links to coal mining disputes and hitmen networks, complicating the policing landscape further.
Dispute Over Political Killings Task Team
A central point of contention involves the PKTT, a specialised unit established to investigate political assassinations in KwaZulu-Natal — a province that has witnessed hundreds of politically motivated killings since 2011. Mkhwanazi accused Sibiya of attempting to disband the team on instructions from Mchunu and transferring 121 dockets to national headquarters, undermining local investigations.
Sibiya firmly rejected the allegations, arguing that his actions were aimed at addressing inefficiencies rather than dismantling the team. He cited budget constraints, stagnant dockets, and procedural delays as justification. “There was a docket open this time and there was no arrest until what time,” he said, insisting that interventions were meant to improve performance.
He presented email records showing no direct instruction from him to disband the team but admitted to implementing unwritten directives from superiors, a practice that raised questions about accountability and documentation in SAPS decision-making.
Scrutiny Over Meetings and Alleged Links
Sibiya was also questioned about his interactions with activist Brown Mogotsi and service provider Vusmuzi “Cat” Matlala. He confirmed meeting Mogotsi once after receiving warnings about surveillance, and Matlala “less than five times” regarding a healthcare tender dispute. Critics, however, found his explanations evasive, particularly given his senior role, which typically excludes direct dealings with service providers.
Phone records previously submitted to the committee suggest more frequent communication, with MPs expected to probe the substance of these engagements during the cross-examination session on 14 October.
Sibiya further raised concerns about conflicts of interest within the committee itself, noting that some members had lodged criminal complaints against him. The committee resolved to address the issue on 15 October after consulting the Speaker.
Expert Analysis and Leadership Questions
Criminologist Professor Kholofelo Rakubu of Tshwane University of Technology characterised Sibiya’s testimony as a “defensive rebuttal” marked by strategic explanations and selective admissions. She noted that bypassing provincial leadership to contact subordinates reflected questionable judgement.
On the PKTT matter, Rakubu said Sibiya’s claims lacked clarity, particularly around unwritten instructions. Regarding his meetings with service providers, she was blunt: “He had no business meeting those people,” calling for a closer examination of agendas, timelines, and call records.
Rakubu argued that the fallout between Sibiya and Mkhwanazi reflects a broader leadership crisis within SAPS, where procedural ambiguities, power struggles, and possible political interference have blurred lines of authority. “Evasions on political linkages leave South Africans hanging,” she said, urging the committee to focus on accountability and chain of command issues in its upcoming sessions.
A Test Case for SAPS Leadership
The case has become a flashpoint for deeper institutional problems facing South Africa’s police service. The conflict between national and provincial leadership in handling high-profile cases like AKA’s murder highlights operational overlaps and political tensions that could affect public trust and the effectiveness of law enforcement.
As the inquiry continues, the committee’s findings are expected to shape future reforms in the country’s policing structure — particularly around documentation, accountability, and coordination between national and provincial commands.
