Bail hearing hears claim father of 16-year-old is dating another girl linked to Sibiya case

A claim that the father of a 16-year-old girl involved in the case against suspended Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya is dating another teenage girl linked to the matter was raised in bail proceedings at the Randburg Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Allegation raised during cross-examination

During cross-examination, Sibiya’s lawyer, Amanda Nel, told the court that the father of the 16-year-old was allegedly in a relationship with one of the girls connected to the case. Nel put the claim to investigating officer Detective Nokukhanya Ndlovu of the Commission Recommendations Task Team, who said she had “no such knowledge”.

Charges against Sibiya and the state case

The court heard that Sibiya faces five charges, including rape, sexual grooming and human trafficking, and that an additional charge of negligent possession of a firearm has been added. The 59-year-old senior police officer was arrested last week after an investigation by the Commission Recommendations Task Team, which is examining matters arising from the Madlanga Commission. Sibiya has denied the allegations.

The state alleges Sibiya raped an 18-year-old woman at a Sandton hotel on May 16 after she was allegedly given alcohol and lost consciousness. The charge of sexual grooming relates to a 16-year-old whom the state says Sibiya groomed via WhatsApp between July and August, including allegedly possessing and sharing sexually explicit images of her. The court was told the teenager is the daughter of an associate of Sibiya. The state also alleges Sibiya trafficked three people for sexual exploitation.

Dispute over venue and how the girls were moved

Nel challenged the investigating officer’s description of The Grand, where Sibiya was arrested, arguing the venue was not strictly a strip club and that Sibiya was arrested in the restaurant area while with three adult men. Ndlovu described the venue as having a strip club at the entrance, with a hotel and restaurant situated behind and alongside it, and told the court:

“The point where I entered is a strip club and the point where I found the applicant is at the strip club.”

Ndlovu said the girls were taken through the strip club area to a VIP lounge where they ate and drank. She told the court,

“They were taken through the strip area into the VIP area where you sit down and eat.”

Ndlovu also alleged Sibiya instructed the girls to claim they were celebrating a birthday to gain entry because they were under 21, and that an associate of Sibiya was present when this occurred.

Questions over relationships and witness identities

Nel asked whether the associate had told investigators that one of the girls was his girlfriend. Ndlovu replied,

“No, I have no such knowledge.”

When asked if she had taken a statement from the associate confirming such a relationship, Ndlovu declined to disclose the identity of a witness she had interviewed, saying,

“Your Worship, I don’t think that it’s fair for the defence to ask me a name to divulge a witness that I’ve interviewed.”

Ndlovu told the court the girls were friends of the associate’s daughter and that the three girls knew one another.

Sequence of events the state sets out

Ndlovu outlined events on May 15 and 16, saying the girls had planned an outing and that Sibiya became involved in arranging transport and suggested they go to The Grand, a venue described in court as owned by a friend of his. The court heard Sibiya met the group at their hotel, instructed them to change their clothes before taking them to the venue, and paid for their food and drinks. The group later returned to the hotel, where Ndlovu said Sibiya entered their room carrying liquor hidden under his jacket.

Defence challenges parts of the account

The defence disputed several aspects of the state’s account, including how Sibiya was introduced to the girls. The legal team said he was introduced as Sotobe, not as “General Sibiya”, and that the girls only later learned he was a police officer after an associate identified him as such. Ndlovu maintained in court that Sibiya was an adult.

The bail hearing is ongoing.