WATCH | Another charge for embattled top cop Sibiya as bail hearing presses on

Shadrack Sibiya

Johannesburg – Suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya has been hit with an additional firearm-related charge as his bail application continues at the Randburg Magistrates’ Court.

Sibiya’s legal team told the court on Thursday that he had been charged with possession of a firearm and had also been served with two additional disciplinary notices while in custody.

The firearm charge relates to a gun allegedly found in his possession when he was arrested last week.

The additional charge is for negligent handling of a firearm, bringing the number of charges against Sibiya to six. The existing charges include rape, sexual grooming of a minor and trafficking in persons.

State prosecutor Velile Makhasana told the court that a separate case had been registered over the firearm.

“I was informed by the investigating officer that a separate case number has been registered in respect of the firearm issue,” Makhasana said, according to the report.

He added that the firearm was allegedly stored in Sibiya’s vehicle rather than carried on his person.

Sibiya’s lawyers questioned why the firearm allegation had not been included with the other charges and raised concerns about the additional disciplinary notices served while he was in custody. It was not immediately clear what the two new disciplinary notices relate to.

Sibiya, who was arrested last week by the Commission Recommendations Task Team, remains in custody at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Services while his bail application proceeds. He denies the allegations against him and has described the existing charges as “trumped up”, claiming they are aimed at removing him from the South African Police Service.

Meanwhile,Sibiya is due to face an internal disciplinary hearing on 5 October over allegations arising from the Madlanga Commission inquiry.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said arrangements would be made for the hearing to proceed even if Sibiya remained in custody.

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