Sibiya on Senzo Meyiwa: My role in preserving the crime scene | SAPS Inquiry
Suspended deputy national commissioner Lt General Shadrack Sibiya has confirmed that criminal syndicates have infiltrated the police and criminal justice system across multiple provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, stressing that this problem is not unique to Gauteng.
Sibiya made these remarks during his appearance before Parliament’s ad hoc committee, responding to questions from MKP’s MP David Skosana about statements made by Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
During an explosive media briefing on July 6, Mkhwanazi said that criminal syndicates had infiltrated law enforcement.
“I would never deny that there are criminal syndicates that have infiltrated the police or criminal justice system. It happens in all the provinces, including in KZN, where he is,” Sibiya said.
He added that some of those involved may not be criminals themselves but are connected to police, prosecutors, and lawyers who end up participating in criminal activities.
When pressed on whether conflicting views among senior SAPS officials on the state of law enforcement undermine public confidence and police cohesion, Sibiya agreed. “Agreed,” he told the committee.
Skosana also revisited the long-standing controversy surrounding the killing of Senzo Meyiwa, the Orlando Pirates soccer player who was reportedly shot on Sunday after burglars entered his girlfriend’s house in 2014.
Skosana asked Sibiya if he had visited the crime scene after the incident.
Sibiya gave a detailed account, stating that at the time, he was head of the Hawks in Gauteng and was at his home in Pretoria when he received a call from then acting provincial commissioner Tebello Mosikil.
“I was at home at night. I didn’t even know about the shooting. It was around 11 at night. Senzo was killed around half past seven,” Sibiya said.
He described rushing to the hospital where Meyiwa was being treated, but said the ward was crowded and he was unable to get close to Meyiwa, who was lying motionless.
He then went to the crime scene at Meyiwa’s home, where he took charge of securing and preserving the area.
Drawing on his 37 years of investigative experience, Sibiya instructed his team to “secure the scene, preserve the scene. This is a scene of crime.” However, by the time he arrived, the scene had already been processed by forensic experts.
He said KwaZulu-Natal MEC Sizakele Nkosi Malobane and other senior officers were present during the investigation, describing the fact-finding process as orderly and professional.
Sibiya explained that the National Commissioner at the time, Riah Phiyega, decided to appoint a separate team of experienced investigators to take over the case, effectively removing the Hawks from further involvement.
“I have done nothing that can actually cause the matter to not be successful,” Sibiya said. “I am not involved in the Senzo Meyiwa case. I have never submitted a statement. I have never been called as a witness. I have done nothing wrong.”
hope.ntanzi@io.co.za
IOL Politics