Ahead of commission testimony, Sibiya opens up about fallout over AKA investigation

The fallout between top cop Shadrack Sibiya and Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi dates back to the murder investigation of Kiernan “AKA” Forbes.

Sibiya is set to kick off his testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday.

He has been referred to as a criminal by Mkhwanazi, who has been at the heart of explosive allegations of corruption and collusion regarding senior police officials in Gauteng.

During an interview with EWN last year, Sibiya maintained that he and Mkhwanazi had a good working relationship, despite having had their differences in the past.

Long-standing tensions between suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya, and KZN Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, were brought to light during an interview Sibiya did with EWN in March last year.

At the time, EWN was attempting to understand the strained relationship between the pair.

Sibiya told EWN that while he respected Mkhwanazi, he knew he was behind probes to link him to underworld figures.

He said he and Mkhwanazi had a fallout when he instructed Mkhwanazi’s deputy to inform the team investigating the murder of hip-hop star, Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, that they needed to travel to Pretoria to brief former Police Minister, Bheki Cele, on investigations.

"The former minister told me he wanted to meet with a particular team for the work they had done [regarding the AKA murder investigation]. From my side, I contacted the deputy provincial commissioner instead of contacting the provincial commissioner himself, and he was upset about that."

Sibiya will appear before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday.

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