JOHANNESBURG - Suspended Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has been taken to Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Center in Tshwane, where he will spend seven days behind bars ahead of his formal bail application.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago confirmed that the move was triggered after the State received intelligence about a possible escape should Sibiya be kept at a Johannesburg facility.
The 59-year-old Lieutenant-General is accused of raping an 18-year-old woman at a Sandton hotel in May.
He also faces allegations of sexually grooming a 16-year-old girl between July and August 2026.
READ | Shadrack Sibiya charged with rape, child sexual grooming and human trafficking
In total, he faces five charges, including rape, trafficking in persons, promoting the sexual grooming of a child, and two counts of sexual grooming of a child.
Kganyago said investigating officers will probe reports of a voice note received on Tuesday afternoon, in which possible witnesses were allegedly intimidated.
“That information is within the knowledge of the investigating officers and the prosecutors. [It] has been presented in court to say this is one of the reasons why the state wants to oppose bail because there is a belief that there will be interference, as [this], according to the state, already happened as far as 2pm this afternoon,” he remarked.
Kganyago explained that they cannot divulge the number of witnesses in the case. This is to avoid the possibility of people working together to intimidate witnesses.
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Sibiya made a brief appearance before the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday afternoon following his arrest on Monday 21 September.
The matter has been postponed to 29 September.
Kganyago said the State requested a seven-day postponement to allow for the enrolment and hearing of a formal bail application, which the State will oppose.
He reiterated NPA’s commitment to prosecuting without fear or favour, regardless of the accused person’s position or status.