Suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya has voiced his pain and disappointment after his home in Tshwane was raided in the early hours of Thursday morning. Police seized several electronic devices as part of an ongoing investigation.
Addressing journalists outside his residence, Sibiya compared his situation to the biblical story of Joseph, saying, “I am not angry, I am hurt. I feel like Joseph, whose brothers threw him into the pit and sold him. For my colleagues to turn on me like this — that is beyond me.”
Sibiya claimed that the officers who conducted the raid came from KwaZulu-Natal and said he felt betrayed by people he once trusted. When asked if he believed National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola was among those who betrayed him, Sibiya replied, “My colleagues betrayed me, including him. The last time I saw him, we were fine.”
The raid reportedly began around 3 a.m. and lasted several hours. Police confirmed that no arrests were made, but multiple cellphones and a laptop were confiscated from Sibiya’s home.
According to his legal team, the search warrant cited allegations of defeating the ends of justice, money laundering, and corruption. Sibiya’s lawyers have indicated plans to challenge the raid through legal channels.
The coordinated police operations also targeted businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela — a nephew of President Cyril Ramaphosa — and Cedrick Nkabinde, the suspended chief of staff to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. These raids reportedly took place while both the president and his deputy were out of the country, prompting political speculation.
Despite the turmoil, Sibiya vowed not to step down, declaring, “Those who want me gone must fire me.”