South Africa's deputy police chief resigns after being charged with sexual offences

12 October 2026, 15: 18 BST. Updated 50 minutes ago.

Key points

• A lawyer representing Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya submitted his resignation letter at his disciplinary hearing on Monday, a police spokesperson remarked.
• The charges relate to allegations that he sexually groomed a 16-year-old girl and raped an 18-year-old woman.
• 'Gifts' from a lover and 'botched' cocaine raids: Police inquiry grips South Africa.
• Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe remarked in a post on X that his departure from the police force was regarded as a dishonourable discharge, external.
• South Africa's deputy police chief has resigned three weeks after he was charged with sexual offences.

Notably, a lawyer representing Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya submitted his resignation letter at his disciplinary hearing on Monday, a police spokesperson remarked.

In practice, the charges relate to allegations that he sexually groomed a 16-year-old girl and raped an 18-year-old woman. He is additionally facing a charge of trafficking.

Sibiya has denied all the charges. He notes he did have sex with the 18 year-old but states it was consensual.

He has been in custody since he was arrested three weeks ago after his bail application was denied.

Meanwhile, the case comes as the police service is in the spotlight at a major public inquiry over allegations of corruption and collusion with criminals.

For context, the inquiry, known as the Madlanga Commission, began in September 2025 and has heard accusations that Sibiya received a gift of 20 impalas from an alleged criminal kingpin in exchange for a police contract. He denied the allegation. More stories from South Africa. From former 'street kid' key to South Africa's police corruption inquiry.

'Gifts' from a lover and 'botched' cocaine raids: Police inquiry grips South Africa. Grim discoveries of murdered women spark fear in South Africa.

Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.

Taken together, the developments around south Africa' s deputy police chief resigns after being charged with sexual offences point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.