Sibiya Fights Back At Madlanga Commission; ‘I’m Being Punished for Being Effective’

Suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya says he believes he is facing consequences for simply carrying out official instructions.

Sibiya continued his testimony for a third day before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where he is giving evidence about the removal and inspection of 121 case dockets linked to the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

The commission is examining the circumstances under which the dockets were taken from the KwaZulu-Natal unit and the delays that followed in returning them.

Inspection of 121 PKTT Dockets Took Eleven Days, Says Sibiya

According to Sibiya, a head office team operating under his authority spent eleven days reviewing the dockets.

He faced tough questioning over why the files were not sent back to KwaZulu-Natal sooner. In response, Sibiya maintained that he acted within the scope of instructions issued from higher up.

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He insisted that the inspection process was conducted in line with directives received through official channels.

‘We Were Complying With Instructions’

Addressing the commission, Sibiya said he feels unfairly targeted for performing his duties.

“I just feel like I’m being punished for being effective. We were working within the official instruction, coming from the minister to the national commissioner, to us.

“And we were at all material times complying with the national commissioners’ instruction to make sure that we push the handing over process.”

He maintains that his actions were consistent with orders conveyed from the minister to the national commissioner and subsequently to his office.

The commission continues to probe the handling of the dockets as testimony proceeds.