South Africa Deputy Police Chief Resigns Over Serious S@x Crime Charges

(Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya. Photo Credit: Gagasi FM)
South Africa's deputy police chief, Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya, has resigned three weeks after he was charged with sexual offences.

His lawyer handed in the resignation letter at his disciplinary hearing on Monday.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said his exit is being treated as a dishonourable discharge, because he resigned while still facing a disciplinary case.

Sibiya, 59, faces charges of sexually grooming a 16 year old girl and raping an 18 year old woman.

He also faces a human trafficking charge.

He denies the grooming and trafficking allegations.

He admits having sex with the 18 year old but says it was consensual.

He has been in custody since his arrest three weeks ago.

He was also accused of having links to crime bosses.

These claims came out during the Madlanga Commission, a major inquiry into police corruption and collusion with criminals.

He was accused of interfering with investigations into political killings in KwaZulu Natal and of accepting cash and 20 impalas from an alleged kingpin in return for a police contract.

He denied that allegation too, and he was suspended last year.

The Madlanga Commission was set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa after the KwaZulu Natal police chief accused then Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of working with criminal gangs.

Mchunu denies this and has also been suspended.