South Africa’s Suspended Police Deputy Chief Resigns Amid Corruption and Sex Crime Allegations
South Africa’s suspended deputy national police commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya, has resigned amid allegations of corruption and criminal charges involving rape and the sexual grooming of a minor.
Sibiya’s lawyers submitted his resignation on Monday, October 12, shortly after disciplinary proceedings against him began, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said his departure would be treated as a “dishonourable discharge” because disciplinary proceedings were ongoing when he resigned.
The former deputy police chief, who had been suspended since September 2025, is currently in custody following his arrest in September over allegations involving an 18-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl. He denies the charges, and his bail application was scheduled to continue on Tuesday.
Separately, Sibiya has been implicated in allegations of corruption and links to criminal networks during testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is investigating alleged corruption and interference within the police service. He has denied wrongdoing.
His resignation ends his employment with the police but does not automatically terminate the criminal proceedings against him.
The case has added to scrutiny of South Africa’s police leadership as authorities face pressure to address allegations of corruption and strengthen public confidence in law enforcement.
