SAPS says viral ‘throat-slicing’ gesture at Sibiya bail hearing was an operational signal, not a threat

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has said a man captured on viral video making what looked like a throat-slicing gesture during suspended deputy national police commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya’s bail appearance was communicating with colleagues, not making a threat.

What happened in court

The footage, taken during Sibiya’s appearance at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court, showed a man in the public gallery making a motion that social media users described as a throat-slitting gesture.

Sibiya appeared at the court for a bail application on five charges, including rape, sexual grooming and human trafficking. The state alleges Sibiya raped an 18-year-old woman on May 16 at a Sandton hotel after she was allegedly given alcohol and lost consciousness. The state also alleges grooming of a 16-year-old girl via WhatsApp and trafficking of three people for sexual exploitation.

In court, Sibiya denied the allegations in an affidavit read by his lawyer, Estelle Kilian SC.

SAPS explanation

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the man making the gestures is a member of the Combat Team of the Commission’s Recommendations Task Team (CRTT), the unit that arrested Sibiya.

“They were intended to communicate to the investigating officer that the protectors assigned to the prosecutors and investigators should take up their positions and remain on standby to facilitate the immediate departure from court after the announcement of the postponement of the bail proceedings.”

Mathe said the interaction related to coordination and positioning of SAPS personnel and added:

“It was not intended to convey a threat, or an instruction to interfere with court proceedings.”

She acknowledged that the gestures, when viewed in isolation, might cause concern or be open to misinterpretation and said the officer has been reminded to be cautious when using non-verbal communication in sensitive public and court environments.

Bail application postponed

During the sitting, state prosecutor Velile Makhasana requested a postponement so the state could prepare after receiving documents from the defence and to cross-examine Advocate Rashad Moosa of Sibiya’s defence team. The bail application was postponed to Thursday.