Sibiya accuses Mkhwanazi and MK Party of a sinister plot
South Africa - Pretoria - 18 Feberuary 2026. The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry witness former Deputy Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya testifies at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
The suspended deputy commissioner of the SAPS, Lt-Gen. Shadrack Sibiya, has accused Lt-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the head of the KwaZulu-Natal police force, of plotting with the MK Party to have him removed from his post as deputy national commissioner.
Sibiya testified before the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday, claiming that his suspension was a result of a planned political campaign that was similar to the circumstances that led to his suspension as head of the Gauteng Hawks in 2015.
In a combative testimony, Sibiya suggested the MK Party escalated its attacks after what he described as its “humiliation” during his appearance before Parliament’s ad hoc committee.
He said the backlash was swift and coordinated.
“I was being humiliated publicly and undermined throughout, even after I testified. Every witness that came, you listen to the MKP, how they are humiliating me, how they are speaking down upon me.
“Not only them, though, but even when a question doesn't need Sibiya, they will say, you're speaking like Sibiya… I was the one who was being attacked the most,” he said.
MKP MP, David Skosana, has opened a criminal case against Sibiya, accusing him of obstruction of justice and evidence tampering.
The complaint centres on the alleged unlawful redirection of 121 case dockets from the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) in KZN.
Skosana also claimed Sibiya may have defeated the ends of justice and possibly committed fraud or forgery linked to a letter authorising the disbandment of the task team.
The party argued that the document the party argued was unauthorised or falsified.
Further allegations hang heavily over the embattled general.
He is accused of links to alleged organised crime figures Katiso “KT” Molefe and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Sibiya allegedly received 20 Impalas and cash from Matlala, claims he denied.
Sibiya insisted the accusations are politically engineered.
He questioned the credibility of his accusers, telling the commission that none of those who testified against him are trained detectives.
“They don’t have investigation courses. They are not detectives,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sibiya alleged during the inquiry that people are being paid on social media to support Mkhwanazi, saying his fame is suspicious.
“When you look at all the provincial commissioners, you will not see anyone on social media,” Sibiya told the commission.
“They don’t have followers because you are not allowed to be on social media as a police officer. But you have got this one provincial commissioner who’s on social media every day.”
He went further, claiming Mkhwanazi is backed by many thousands of accounts and is supported by the MK Party (MKP).
According to Sibiya, the scale and intensity of online praise directed at Mkhwanazi simply does not add up.
Yet when commission chair Mbuyiseli Madlanga pressed him for proof, the claims faltered.
“Does he have his own social media accounts? Yes or no?” Madlanga asked directly.“I don’t know,” Sibiya conceded.
Madlanga did not hide his concern. “I’m not sure that it’s fair then to make the point that you appear to be trying to make.”
The exchange cut to the core of the matter, an allegation with no evidence — at least not yet.
Mkhwanazi’s public profile surged after his July 6, 2024 media briefing, where he made sweeping claims about political interference in policing.
The commission continues.
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