Former deputy commissioner in court

Shadrack Sibiya, former Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, appeared in Randburg Magistrates' Court on Wednesday for his bail hearing, now in its third week.

Six charges including rape and trafficking

Sibiya faces six charges: rape of an eighteen-year-old, sexual grooming of a sixteen-year-old minor, human trafficking and negligent handling of a firearm. He has pleaded not guilty to all.

Phones wiped before arrest

Prosecutor Velile Makasana told the court that the State possesses evidence Sibiya's cellphones were wiped clean before his arrest on twenty-first September.

“At this point in time, the State is in possession, even though that was not mentioned in clear terms, of evidence that his cellphones were wiped off; they were cleaned before he was arrested.”

Bail amount and custody duration

Sibiya has been in custody since twenty-first September and is seeking release on twenty thousand rand bail.

Sixteen-year-old's fear in protection

A sixteen-year-old complainant identified as ZM, currently in witness protection, submitted an affidavit expressing intense daily anxiety and fear over Sibiya's police background and alleged threats to her family.

“Anxiety is what I feel every day ever since the case commenced. This is based on the knowledge that Mr Sibiya is a senior police officer and has made threats to my father.”

Eighteen-year-old describes suicidal thoughts

An eighteen-year-old alleged victim identified as MC stated the case had given her suicidal thoughts and constant dread that she and her family would be tortured if Sibiya were released.

“I have also told Sgt Ndlovu that I think I wouldn't wait for any future torture should he be released on bail because something worse than what he had done could happen.”

Defence argues weak State case

Sibiya's advocate Estelle Killian argued the State case against him is very weak, claiming evidence linking him to alleged trafficking of teenage girls is insufficient and flimsy.

“It is insufficient and flimsy in law.”

Hotel arrangement dispute

Killian argued that a man identified as Mr M arranged hotel accommodation and transport for the girls on fifteen May twenty twenty-six with no evidence Sibiya instructed him to do so.

“On 15 May 2026, Mr M arranges the hotel accommodation, he arranges transport on requests of victims, no mention of [Sibiya's] presence or the fact that he instructed Mr M to do so.”

Defence challenges victim anxiety argument

Killian argued that anxiety among complainants in sexual offence cases should not by itself prevent an accused person from being granted bail, and must be considered with other evidence.

“It's not unusual for victims of rape to feel anxiety, but it shouldn't prevent bail.”

Prosecutor cites guilty conscience

Makasana pointed to a twenty-fourth July twenty twenty-six exchange where Sibiya asked ZM whether she was deleting their messages, arguing this showed guilty conscience alongside the wiped phones.

“I will submit, Your Worship, that the guilty conscience of the applicant drove him to ask ZM on 24 July 2026 whether she was deleting the messages, and she had promised to do so.”

Cabonge recording links Sibiya to others

On Tuesday, the court heard a twenty-five-minute recording between Mr M and businessman Serge Cabonge, in which Cabonge linked Sibiya to businessman Vusimuzi Matlala, tenderpreneur Hangwani Maumela and Sergeant Fannie Nkosi.

Cabonge claims contact with commission figure

In the recording, Cabonge claimed he had been in contact with someone who sits in front of the Madlanga Commission and whom he referred to as a judge, who advised him to leave the country.

Hearing resumes Thursday

The bail proceedings are scheduled to resume on Thursday, fifteenth October, when the State will conclude its arguments before the magistrate decides whether to grant or deny Sibiya's bail application.