Suspect arrested, inmate charged with impersonating anti-corruption unit head

An inmate and his co-accused, a member of the public, were arrested and charged with impersonating the City’s fraud and corruption buster, Shadrack Sibiya, Midrand Reporter reports.

Sibiya heads up the City’s anti-corruption unit and has helped to uncover R16 billion in corruption since his appointment in November last year.

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Mayor Herman Mashaba explained that the inmate, who had a cellphone with him, was allegedly the mastermind behind the crime. He contacted a former candidate City valuer, who had previously been arrested for undervaluing 22 properties.

He introduced himself as Sibiya, and told her that he could make her case disappear if she paid him R150 000.

“After receiving the phone call from the inmate, [the valuer] contacted the Hawks, who then contacted Group Forensic and Investigation Services. A trap was set for the suspect who was meant to collect the money in Midrand,” Mashaba said.

The case took undercover investigators all the way to the north of Pretoria in Soshanguve to the inmate’s partner.

The duo is now expected to appear in court on charges of fraud and corruption.

Mashaba said more than 2 500 cases have been investigated by Sibiya’s team, which have led to more than 600 arrests, 100 suspensions, seven dismissals and 13 resignations.