Sibiya Speaks Out After Home Raid: “I Feel Like Joseph, Betrayed By My Colleagues”

Suspended deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya has spoken out following a dramatic early-morning raid at his Tshwane home on Thursday. Police reportedly seized several electronic devices, including multiple cellphones and a laptop, as part of an ongoing investigation.

“I am not angry, I am hurt. I feel like Joseph, whose brothers threw him into the pit and sold him,” Sibiya said, addressing journalists outside his property. “For my colleagues to turn on me the way they did, that is beyond me.”

The operation began around 3 am and lasted several hours. Sibiya revealed that the units that raided his home were from KwaZulu-Natal, adding that he felt deeply betrayed by his fellow officers.

Sibiya Points Fingers at Police Leadership

When asked if he was referring to national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola, Sibiya replied: “My colleagues betrayed me, including him. The last time I was with the national commissioner, we were fine. The last time I saw him, we were clear.”

He further stated that Masemola had visited his home “many times,” suggesting that the two had previously shared a cordial relationship.

Sibiya added that he had anticipated the raid, claiming he had been under constant surveillance for some time.

SAPS Confirms No Arrests as Legal Action Looms

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has denied reports that Sibiya was arrested during the operation. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said: “As SAPS, we are not aware of any person who has been arrested thus far, and that includes Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya.”

Sibiya’s legal team confirmed that the search warrant cited allegations of defeating the ends of justice, money laundering, and corruption. They have vowed to challenge the legality of the raid.

The raid on Sibiya’s property was part of a broader operation that also targeted businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela—a nephew of President Cyril Ramaphosa—and Cedrick Nkabinde, the suspended chief of staff to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

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The coordinated operations involved elite SAPS, Special Investigating Unit (SIU), and Crime Intelligence members, and notably took place while both President Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile were out of the country—a timing that has sparked political speculation.

Despite the mounting pressure, the suspended top cop remains defiant. “I am not going anywhere. Those who want me gone must fire me,” he declared.

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