Deputy national police commissioner Sibiya plans to appeal after losing court bid to return to work

JOHANNESBURG - Deputy National Police Commissioner for Crime Detection Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya plans to take the matter of being placed on a leave of absence on appeal.

The Pretoria High Court on Tuesday afternoon dismissed Sibiya’s urgent application, which would have seen him return to work after being placed on a leave of absence in July.

Sibiya was requested to stay at home by National Commissioner Fannie Masemola after being implicated by KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in allegations of corruption within the criminal justice system.

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In a lengthy ruling, Judge Norman Davis found that Sibiya’s legal team were attempting to disguise his stay-at-home order as a suspension.

Sibiya, the deputy national police commissioner for crime detection, was requested to stay at home in July by his boss, Masemola.

Sibiya has consistently been arguing that Masemola’s decision to have him stay at home was being disguised as a suspension.

But the court found there was no proof to support this argument.

The order further notes that Sibiya’s pay has not been affected, and following a risk assessment in July, where he was deemed high risk, he was provided with a protection team, members of whom he personally chose.

Sibiya’s urgent application was dismissed with costs, with the seasoned cop planning to take the matter on appeal.