General Sibiyila

Lieutenant General Shibiri was on leave and sick on the 6th and 7th and thus did not know the reason for an arrest, but took it upon himself to make enquiries and report back to General Sibiyila as he was trusted to do so.

“I was not reluctant on the 16th. On the 6th I was supposed to be going there if I was feeling well... I phoned to find out what was he arrested for... He trusted, he always phones me and it shows he trusted me to do the work and always he tasked me.”

Even though Lieutenant General Shibiri was on sick leave, General Sibiyila directly phoned him and expected a full report on the arrest matter from him, instead of tasking the acting officer or the Deputy Police Commissioner Khumalo.

“The General knew I was on sick leave, and he chose to phone me, not informing the one who is acting to enquire about these things on the 7th... when he knows it is not your docket.”

Lieutenant General Shibiri admits to making enquiries and reporting back directly to General Sibiyila even while on sick leave, despite the acting officer being responsible for such matters during his absence.

“I take it upon myself that always I report back if I am sent... I make sure that I go and report back... I expect the person to report back to me and then I report back to the senior person who has tasked me.”

Advocate Baloyi questions why Lieutenant General Shibiri did not instruct the acting officer or ask General Khumalo to provide reports during his sick leave, thus creating a vacuum in handling the January arrest matter.

“That is the last thing that happened... You do not, and then you on the 17th or 16th start making these enquiries without yourself speaking to Khumalo to check did you give Sibiy a response. So you created this vacuum.”