Bail hearing for suspended Lt‑Gen Shadrack Sibiya to resume after threat recordings played in court

The bail hearing for suspended police lieutenant‑general Shadrack Sibiya will resume on Wednesday after the Randburg Magistrates’ Court heard recordings in which he is alleged to have threatened the father of a 16‑year‑old girl at the centre of the case.

Recordings played in court

During cross‑examination of Detective Nokukhanya Ndlovu, an investigating officer attached to the Commission Recommendations Task Team, the state played two recordings the prosecution is relying on to oppose bail.

In the first recording, Sibiya is alleged to have told the girl’s father:

“I can deal with you very quickly and easily.”

The recording also contains remarks in which Sibiya allegedly reminded the man of financial support he had provided, saying he had given amounts ranging from R4,000 to R10,000 on different occasions and had given his bank card to buy groceries.

Second recording and translation order

The state also played a second recording in which a caller appears to say they had been approached by a South African Police Service officer who allegedly wanted them to work with the girl’s father to influence the outcome of Sibiya’s case in exchange for a bribe. The recording was unclear, and Magistrate Hleziphi Mkhasibe ordered that proper translations be prepared. The translations are expected to be provided on Wednesday.

Defence response and disputed evidence

Sibiya’s legal team described the recordings as new evidence and said it would deal with them later. During cross‑examination, defence lawyer Amanda Nel questioned Ndlovu about several matters, including an allegation that the girl’s father was in a relationship with another teenage girl involved in the case. Ndlovu said she had no knowledge of that alleged relationship.

Nel challenged aspects of the state’s account of events at a venue called The Grand, arguing it was not strictly a strip club and that Sibiya had been arrested in the restaurant area while in the company of three adult men. Ndlovu disagreed, saying the venue has a strip club at the entrance and that the girls were seated in the strip club section on the night of May 15.

Allegations in the criminal case

The state has charged Sibiya with a range of offences, including rape, sexual grooming and human trafficking. A further charge of negligent possession of a firearm has been added. The prosecution alleges Sibiya raped an 18‑year‑old woman at a Sandton hotel on May 15 after she was allegedly given alcohol and lost consciousness; that he sexually groomed a 16‑year‑old via WhatsApp between July and August and possessed and shared sexually explicit images of her; and that he trafficked three people for sexual exploitation.

Custody and detention conditions

Sibiya, 59, was arrested after an investigation by the Commission Recommendations Task Team, which is examining matters arising from the Madlanga Commission. He has denied the allegations and remains in solitary confinement at the C‑Max facility at Kgosi Mampuru II. The defence has argued the detention conditions lack a justifiable basis; Ndlovu said the arrangements were necessary for security reasons and appropriate. The defence says the issue should be dealt with by the Department of Correctional Services.

Next steps

The bail hearing is expected to continue on Wednesday, when translations of the unclear recording will be provided and the state will further press its case opposing bail.