A Subpoena Meets a Sudden Illness

The stage was set for a dramatic showdown. The Madlanga Commission, probing deep-seated corruption and political meddling in law enforcement, had issued a subpoena to one of its most anticipated witnesses: suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya. He was scheduled to take the stand this Thursday.

He will not be appearing. Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed that Sibiya has “called in sick,” abruptly halting the prospect of his testimony. With this being the final week of hearings for the year, Michaels stated the testimony “will have to stand over until next year, 2026.”

The delay is more than a scheduling hiccup. Sibiya was served with a ‘Rule 3’ notice, formally detailing the serious allegations he must answer to. His absence pushes a moment of public accountability deep into the future, leaving a cloud of unanswered questions hovering over the commission’s findings.

The Weight of Allegations He Leaves Behind

While Sibiya remains in the wings, the allegations against him, voiced by multiple witnesses, have already painted a disturbing picture for the commission.

The central claim is that Sibiya orchestrated the dismantling of the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), a specialised unit investigating some of the province’s most volatile murders. Testimony suggests he pushed for its closure and demanded the transfer of approximately 121 sensitive dockets to his national office. There, according to witnesses, the cases “gathered dust” before being quietly returned to KZN months later, their investigative momentum lost.

Even more explosive are the allegations of his alleged ties to notorious figures. Witnesses have testified about Sibiya’s reported proximity to Gauteng tycoon and alleged drug cartel leader Vusimuzi “CAT” Matlala, and alleged underworld businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe.

One witness, identified only as Witness C, provided granular detail last month, alleging that Matlala would deliver bundles of cash to a police sergeant under Sibiya’s command, who would then pass it to the senior officer. These were described as routine, off-the-books payments.

A Pattern of Avoidance or Coincidence?

Sibiya has consistently denied all wrongdoing, dismissing claims of colluding with criminals. His legal team will now work with the commission’s evidence leaders to set a new date for 2026.

However, the timing of his illness, coinciding with a legally enforced summons, is likely to fuel public skepticism. On social media and talk radio, reactions have ranged from cynical jokes about “commission flu” to genuine concern over the ability of the inquiry to compel testimony from powerful figures.

For now, the microphone sits unused. The detailed allegations of docket sabotage and clandestine cash deliveries will go unchallenged from the witness box this year. The commission must now adjourn, leaving a critical thread of its investigation dangling, with the promiseor threatof it being picked up in 2026. The public’s wait for answers, and Sibiya’s day of reckoning, has been significantly prolonged.