'I am under siege’, claims Sibiya as he confirms police raid
Suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya says he is aware of reports about his imminent arrest, confirming that police conducted a search and seizure operation at his Centurion home early on Thursday morning.
Sibiya told reporters that heavily armed officers arrived before dawn, seizing cell phones, laptops, and other gadgets belonging to everyone in the house.
“They came to conduct a search and seizure. I was expecting them. What they are after is just the gadgets. I gave them what they needed. It’s the laptop, the cellphones, three or four of them, belonging to people who are here,” he said.
Sibiya said the operation began around 3 am., describing it as a show of force that has left his family shaken.
“We are under siege here. There are helicopters, there’s surveillance left, right, and centre. This is abuse of power. My children were traumatized by heavily armed members of the task team and the NIU. My mother is sick, and they were all inside the house when this happened,” he said.
Sibiya added that he feels constantly monitored and believes he is being targeted by his colleagues.
“I’ve been under surveillance. There are cars that park outside every day. This has been imminent since last year. I know they want to push me out. I will never resign; they must fire me,” he said.
His lawyer, Ian Levitt, said the legality of the operation will be challenged in court.
“It will be determined by a judge in due course. We have our reservations, and we will interrogate the process, including the affidavit that gave rise to the search and seizure warrant,” Levitt told journalists.
Sibiya was placed on leave of absence in July by National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, following allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi accused Sibiya of colluding with information peddler Brown Mogotsi and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to have the KZN political killings task team disbanded.
Sibiya dismissed those claims as baseless, insisting that he was being punished for doing his job.
The South African Police Service has since confirmed that no arrest has taken place but said investigations are ongoing, as mentioned at the ad hoc vommittee and the Madlanga Commission probing alleged criminal infiltration of the SAPS.
ALSO READ
