National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has stated he will not publicly respond to allegations from his deputy, Shadrack Sibiya, that he acted unlawfully by placing him on leave. Masemola said he will let the courts decide the matter.
The comments were made during a drug destruction operation in Gauteng. The dispute began in July when Masemola directed Sibiya to take a leave of absence. This followed allegations from KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that Sibiya had improperly taken over sensitive dockets related to political killings.
Sibiya has challenged the decision in court, arguing it was unfair and unlawful. This leadership battle occurs as a separate commission is set to begin probing broader allegations of corruption within law enforcement and the justice system.
Masemola emphasized that the issue should be settled in court, not in public, and that his focus remains on fighting crime across the country. The outcome of the court case is expected to impact stability within the top ranks of the police service.