Randburg Magistrates Court, where the suspended SAPS lieutenant general appeared on Monday, 22 September 2026. Image: supplied
Lazarus Maumela claims the SAPS general arrest succession battle is the true motive behind the sexual offence charges against a suspended SAPS lieutenant general. Maumela made the statement outside Randburg Magistrates Court on Monday, where the senior officer appeared following his arrest on Sunday, 21 September 2026.
Maumela, who presents himself as a spiritual figure and person of faith, expressed strong support for the accused officer. He said the charges had nothing to do with the allegations on paper. “There is a targeted plan against him, only because of the succession battle of the SAPS,” Maumela told reporters gathered outside the court.
Furthermore, Maumela compared the case to the rape allegation against former president Jacob Zuma before Zuma came to power. He suggested the arrest followed a similar pattern of using criminal charges to neutralise a political rival. Maumela framed the lieutenant general as a victim of internal SAPS power politics rather than a genuine suspect.
Maumela also confirmed he was present at a Sandton adult establishment on the night of the arrest. His presence at the venue drew immediate attention on social media, with many questioning why a self-described spiritual figure was at the establishment in the first place. Maumela did not directly address the questions about his own presence at the venue.
SAPS General Arrest Succession Battle Claims Draw Attention
The SAPS general arrest succession battle narrative gained traction online after Maumela’s statement circulated on social media. Many commentators rejected his framing, while others pointed to the timing of the arrest as significant. The suspended lieutenant general was arrested just days before his scheduled court appearance, which some supporters argued was deliberate.
In addition, Maumela’s comparison to the Zuma rape case before his rise to the presidency proved controversial. Critics noted that Zuma was ultimately acquitted, while the current charges against the lieutenant general are at an early stage. No verdict has been entered and the accused is presumed innocent.
The lieutenant general faces charges of grooming a 16-year-old between July and August 2026, and raping an 18-year-old at a Sandton hotel in May 2026. He appeared in the Randburg Magistrates Court on Monday, 22 September 2026. The case was postponed and he is expected to return to court at a later date.
IOL confirmed they were aware of the officer’s identity but withheld his name pending his formal court appearance. Following his appearance in the Randburg Magistrates Court on Monday, multiple outlets confirmed the accused is Shadrack Sibiya, the suspended Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection.
Moreover, Sibiya’s suspension from the SAPS predates these charges. He has been at the centre of internal SAPS disputes for some time, which lends some context to Maumela’s succession battle claim, even as the allegations against him remain serious and unproven at this stage.
The National Prosecuting Authority has not commented on Maumela’s claims. The SAPS has also not responded publicly to the succession battle narrative. The case continues.