PRETORIA – South African national police commissioner for crime detection Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya, has claimed that he always had an amicable relationship with KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi until they had a dispute over an enquiry on the arrest of the men suspected of murdering rapper Kiernan Forbes, better known as AKA.
AKA was gunned down on 10 February 2023 along with Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane on Durban’s Florida Road.
Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 21, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, 37, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande, 29 were last year arrested for the crime.
Appearing before parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations of corruption in the criminal justice system made by Mkhwananzi, Sibiya claimed that he had never had a problem with Mkhwanazi until the arrest of the AKA suspects.
“I’ve had a good working relationship with Mkhwanazi for years. The only issue came after the arrest of the alleged murderers of AKA. That’s where the difference came in, and it was not meant to be a big issue,” he said.
Sibiya, who is accused of interfering in police investigations, said that Mkhwananzi had not taken kindly to his attempts to get information on the men who had been arrested.
“Cele came to ask if the people arrested were the right people, and I assured him, then he asked to be briefed. I contacted the deputy provincial commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal. I’ve had a good working relationship with Mkhwanazi, and I didn’t think he’d make this a big deal.
“Usually, when I contact him, he’s busy, so I’d call the next person to assist. The purpose was to ensure there wasn’t going to be any delay.
“The deputy provincial commissioner said I should call Mkhwanazi because he was not happy. He said, ‘Sibiya, you cannot call my province and order my people. I apologised.”
Sibiya said despite the apology, an incensed Mkhwananzi had then banned him from interfering with KZN affairs.
“He [Mkhwanazi] then sent me a long message saying he was disappointed and he was responsible for what was happening in KwaZulu-Natal. I was banned for matters in KwaZulu-Natal while I am supposed to be overseeing matters of national security.”
