BAIL DENIED: ‘Dangerous pattern’: Shadrack Sibiya denied bail over threats and wiped cellphone

A former high-ranking South African police official, Shadrack Sibiya, was denied bail on Tuesday after a magistrate ruled he posed a risk to witnesses and could tamper with evidence. The decision came following a hearing at the Randburg Magistrate's Court, where Sibiya faced multiple serious charges, including rape, sexual grooming, and human trafficking. He has been in custody since his arrest on 20 September and is currently held at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre. Magistrate Hleziphi Mkhasibe cited specific threats made by Sibiya, including a statement directed at Mr M, a former associate and the father of a 16-year-old complainant. The threat, "I will wipe out you and your entire family," was deemed indicative of a dangerous pattern of behavior. Another threat, "I will deal with you easily," further reinforced the magistrate's concern regarding Sibiya's intentions toward witnesses. The magistrate emphasized that Sibiya's actions were not impulsive but deliberate, noting that he was aware of Mr M's role as a State witness and the impending nature of his arrest. Despite Sibiya's argument that his actions were influenced by anger and ego, Mkhasibe concluded that he did not demonstrate exceptional circumstances warranting bail. Statements from the two young complainants highlighted their fears about Sibiya's possible release. ZM, the 16-year-old complainant under witness protection, expressed deep anxiety about the safety of her family, fearing that Sibiya might retaliate against them. Similarly, the 18-year-old complainant, MC, shared her distress, stating that the case had caused her severe emotional trauma, even leading to suicidal thoughts due to the fear of what might occur if Sibiya were released. The court also heard allegations that attempts were made to intimidate witnesses, including one instance where a friend of MC was reportedly approached with offers to provide conflicting testimony. Additionally, a witness was allegedly approached with financial incentives to drop the charges. However, the magistrate cautioned against directly linking Sibiya to these incidents while ordering further investigations. Concerns were raised about Sibiya's potential to interfere with evidence, especially given that he had wiped his phone clean prior to his arrest, potentially removing incriminating data. During the bail hearing, Sergeant Nokukhanya Ndlovu presented message exchanges showing Sibiya requesting explicit content from the 16-year-old complainant and later instructing her to delete such materials. The magistrate noted that Sibiya's position as a high-ranking police officer should have instilled in him an understanding of the significance of preserving evidence. The state prosecutor, Velile Makasana, opposed Sibiya's release, citing worries about witness intimidation and disruption of the investigation. Audio recordings were presented suggesting Sibiya had made threatening remarks towards the family of the teenager involved in the case. These factors contributed to the magistrate's decision to deny bail, ensuring that Sibiya remains in custody pending further proceedings.