Sibiya Accuses MK Party of Orchestrating Smear Campaign, Politicizing SAPS

Pretoria, South Africa – Suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday, alleging that the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is actively working to damage his reputation and politicize the South African Police Service (SAPS). Sibiya directly accused the MK Party of instigating the explosive briefing delivered by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on July 6, 2025.

Allegations of a Coordinated Campaign

Sibiya claims the MK Party’s efforts extend beyond Mkhwanazi’s briefing, citing instances of direct harassment and attempts to influence legal proceedings. He stated that the same statements originating from the MK Party were used to justify a search warrant for his home and were central to protests organized against him at SAPS headquarters. “As I’m sitting in the office, you hear people toyi-toying in the street – it’s MK Party,” Sibiya told the commission.

Threats of Unrest

According to Sibiya, MK Party members allegedly threatened to incite violence if any action were taken against Mkhwanazi. He referenced TikTok messages warning of a repeat of the July 2021 unrest should Mkhwanazi be targeted. “You get TikTok messages that say, ‘you touch Mkhwanazi, you touch us, you will see another July unrest that you never had’,” Sibiya testified.

Criminal Case and Docket Redirection

The accusations come as MK Party MP David Skosana has filed a criminal case against Sibiya, alleging obstruction of justice and evidence tampering. The complaint centers on the alleged unlawful redirection of 121 case dockets from the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) in KwaZulu-Natal. Skosana likewise alleges Sibiya may have defeated the ends of justice and committed fraud related to a letter authorizing the disbandment of the task team.

Questioning the Credibility of Accusers

Sibiya further challenged the credibility of those testifying against him, stating that none of his accusers are trained detectives. “They don’t have investigation courses. They are not detectives,” he asserted, suggesting a lack of investigative expertise among those leveling accusations against him. He alleges that the corruption allegations against him are politically motivated and stem from connections between former City of Johannesburg speaker Colleen Makhubele, and Mkhwanazi.

Broader Allegations and Ongoing Investigation

Sibiya is also facing allegations of links to alleged organized crime figures Katiso “KT” Molefe and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, including claims he received 20 Impalas and cash from Matlala, which he denies. The Madlanga Commission continues its investigation into these and other allegations of criminal infiltration within the justice cluster. The commission is expected to continue hearing testimony in the coming weeks.