PRETORIA - Suspended Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has denied giving any instruction for the 121 dockets to be removed from KwaZulu- Natal to the head office in Gauteng.
The bulk of the dockets involved political killings of councillor and traditional leaders.
Their relocation became central to allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, of political interference.
There were further claims that the dockets were irregularly removed and subsequently left “gathering dust” in Pretoria, ultimately stalling investigations.
READ | 121 dockets to be returned to the Political Killings Task Team
In his testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday, Sibiya was adamant that he was not part of the handover process of and never had physical possession of any of the dockets.
Sibiya went on to dismiss claims by Mkhwanazi that the delays in action towards the dockets were his fault.
He claimed there was an overwhelming number docket within the (Political Killings Task Team) PKTT which had been long stagnant.
“Only 18 percent of the documents reflect a last day investigation in 2025, a further 21 percent recorded a last day of investigation in 2024, and 22 percent recorded a last day of investigation as far back as 2023”
“Beyond these, a not insignificant number of dockets show even earlier last day of investigation dates some dating to 2017, 2018 and even 2019,”
Sibiya said these figures contradict any assertion that the PKTT was functioning effectively or making meaningful investigative progress.
He went on to say that in fact these figures reveal a patten of dormancy and stagnation over a prolonged period, despite the team having been allocated budget, resources and operational support.