Simon Majadibodu|Published
The Randburg Magistrate’s Court has heard that businessman and socialite Serge Cabonge allegedly identified suspended police Sergeant Fannie Nkosi as the person who acted as an intermediary between Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala and former deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
The allegations emerged on Tuesday as Sibiya returned to court for the continuation of his bail application.
Sibiya’s appearance comes after he resigned from the South African Police Service (SAPS), resulting in the immediate termination of his employment and the loss of his rank as a lieutenant-general.
Police said his resignation was tendered by his legal representative during ongoing disciplinary proceedings.
The disciplinary hearing had already commenced when the resignation was submitted.
The SAPS described his departure as a dishonourable discharge, as he had an outstanding disciplinary case at the time of his resignation.
Sibiya’s resignation comes as he faces criminal proceedings following an investigation by the Commission Recommendations Task Team, which is examining matters arising from the Madlanga Commission.
The State alleges that Sibiya raped an 18-year-old woman at a Sandton hotel on 15 May after she was allegedly given alcohol and lost consciousness.
He is also accused of sexually grooming a 16-year-old girl via WhatsApp between July and August, and of possessing and sharing sexually explicit images of her.
The teenager’s father, referred to in court as Mr M, is an associate of Sibiya.
In addition, the State alleges that Sibiya trafficked three people for sexual exploitation.
Cabonge denies acting as intermediary
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the State played a recording of a conversation between Cabonge and Mr M, the father of Sibiya’s alleged 16-year-old victim.
In the recording, Cabonge denied collecting money on behalf of Sibiya and claimed that Matlala and the former deputy commissioner conducted their dealings through Nkosi, who has been suspended from the police service.
“They were communicating via Nkosi. They removed me from the picture,” Cabonge said.
He further referred to Nkosi as the sergeant who had been arrested, claiming that the dealings continued through him.
“They were doing things within Nkosi,” he said.
Cabonge also denied receiving money from Sibiya.
Madlanga Commission recommendations
In August, the Madlanga Commission recommended disciplinary action against four people who appeared before it: Sibiya, Witness G, suspended SAPS Sergeant Fannie Nkosi and alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi.
The four were named in the commission’s second interim report, which was handed to President Cyril Ramaphosa at the end of May.
The report is the second interim report by the commission to recommend immediate investigations into alleged criminal conduct.
It sets out recommendations and referrals based on evidence heard by the commission since the beginning of 2026.
The commission recommended disciplinary proceedings and immediate investigations into alleged criminal conduct, with criminal proceedings to be instituted if sufficient evidence is found.
Meanwhile, Sibiya’s bail hearing has been postponed to Wednesday, for continuation.
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