Cabonge tells court Sibiya met several women through him

Audio clip played during bail hearing links Sibiya to women met through Serge Cabonge, prosecutor says

The Randburg Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday that a recorded conversation suggests former top police officer Shadrack Sibiya met a number of women through controversial socialite Serge Cabonge. The recording was played by the State as part of Sibiya’s ongoing bail application.

What the recording contained

The State introduced a 25-minute audio recording of a conversation between Cabonge and a man identified in court as Mr M, an associate of Sibiya. In that exchange Cabonge suggested Sibiya had met several women through him, naming actress and socialite Tebogo Thobejane among those he said Sibiya had encountered in his company.

Mr M disputed Cabonge’s assertion that Sibiya knew Thobejane. The recording captures the two men speaking directly about who Sibiya knew and where he had met certain people.

“But General, General (Sibiya) doesn’t know Tebogo,”

“No, he knows … me, I am sitting with General and Tebogo a couple of times.”

“Maybe it’s because he met a lot of girls around me. You understand that? Maybe it’s because he met a lot of girls around me, that’s why, do you understand?”

How the exchange was used in court

The State relied on the recording as part of evidence during Sibiya’s bail proceedings. The clip was presented to the magistrate as the prosecution outlined aspects of its case and the background of associations surrounding the accused.

Cabonge’s remarks in the recording were treated by the State as relevant to the State’s broader presentation at the bail hearing. The exchange formed part of the material the court considered while hearing arguments on whether Sibiya should be granted bail.

Charges against Sibiya detailed in court papers

The case against Sibiya, as set out by the State in court, includes multiple serious allegations. The State alleges Sibiya raped an 18-year-old woman at a Sandton hotel on May 15 after she was allegedly given alcohol and lost consciousness.

In addition, the State alleges that Sibiya sexually groomed a 16-year-old girl via WhatsApp between July and August, and that he possessed and distributed sexually explicit images of the teenager. A separate allegation presented in court states that Sibiya trafficked three people for sexual exploitation.

Sibiya has denied the allegations, and his bail application is continuing. The court was told that his bail application will proceed on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

Resignation from SAPS

The court appearance follows Sibiya’s resignation from the South African Police Service on October 12, 2026. His resignation was submitted by his legal representative while internal disciplinary proceedings were under way.

As a result of that resignation the State says his employment was immediately terminated and he lost his rank as a lieutenant-general. The South African Police Service described the departure as a dishonourable discharge, noting that the disciplinary hearing had already commenced when his resignation was tendered.

Related matters mentioned during proceedings

The recording and references to public figures drew attention to Tebogo Thobejane, who is known for her role in the television drama Muvhango. Court material notes she was previously in a relationship with businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and was shot in the foot during a shooting on the N1 highway near Sandton in 2023.

Court documents say a female passenger in the vehicle suffered severe spinal injuries and was left paralysed. That incident is part of a separate case in the Johannesburg High Court in which Matlala and four co-accused face charges linked to alleged murder plots. The State alleges three separate plots were orchestrated between August 2022 and January 2024, targeting Sibanyoni, Thobejane and music producer Seunkie “DJ Vetteys” Mokubong.

According to the court record, Matlala faces charges alongside alleged gunmen Musa Kekana and Tiego Floyd Mabusela, his wife Tsakani, and Nthabiseng Zandile Nzama. The charges listed in that indictment include conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition, money laundering and fraud. The record shows Kekana, Mabusela and Matlala remain in custody, while Tsakani and Nzama are out on bail. All five have pleaded not guilty to the 25 counts on the indictment.

Why the audio matters

Audio recordings can play a material role in bail and criminal proceedings by corroborating or contradicting witness statements, identifying connections between individuals and providing insight into what participants said at particular times. In this matter, the State presented the recording to show an association between Sibiya and people named in the conversation.

General procedural questions about how such evidence is weighed are determined by the court, which considers relevance, admissibility and context. The evidence from the recording will form part of the material the magistrate evaluates as the bail application proceeds.

What happens next

The bail process in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court remained ongoing at the time the recording was presented. The State’s presentation and the defence response to the recording are part of that continuing process.

Further hearings and legal argument will determine whether Sibiya is granted bail while the criminal charges against him proceed through the courts. The matters referenced in court including the allegations against Sibiya and the separate Johannesburg High Court case involving Matlala and co-accused will continue through their respective judicial processes.