Experts examine power dynamics in Sibiya allegations - IOL

Suspended deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya is facing allegations of rape and sexual grooming of a teenager.

Men in positions of power like Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, the suspended deputy national commissioner, are 'narcissists' who use their powerful positions to intimidate, suppress and abuse those they see as powerless. These are the views of various crime experts, who have reacted to Sibiya's high-profile arrest at a Sandton strip club on Monday evening.

Sibiya, who was apprehended by members of the Madlanga Commission’s Recommendations Task Team (CRTT) on Monday, September 21, 2026, has made headlines not only for his esteemed position but also for the nature of the charges against him. The authorities allege that he groomed a 16-year-old girl between July and August 2026 and raped an 18-year-old woman at a hotel in Sandton earlier this year.

Experts in criminology and social dynamics have voiced their concerns over the implications of such allegations.

Mike Bolhuis, a registered private security investigator and criminologist, pointed to a troubling pattern often seen in individuals like Sibiya. "Men like him believe they are too powerful to be held accountable. They exploit their name and reputation, taking advantage of women to the extent of committing rape. This kind of behaviour does not manifest overnight; it is a character flaw developed over time," stated Bolhuis.

Professor Nirmala Gopal from the University of KwaZulu-Natal echoed these sentiments, emphasising the importance of examining power dynamics in sexual offences. She noted that while allegations remain unproven until validated in court, they raise crucial questions about authority, vulnerability, and decision-making in the context of the law.

"Researchers such as David Finkelhor, Michael Seto, R. Karl Hanson, William Marshall, and Tony Ward have long argued that sexual offending is seldom explained by sexual motivation alone. Instead, it often involves a combination of opportunity, entitlement, impaired self-regulation, cognitive distortions, and the exploitation of unequal power relationships," she stated.

When it comes to the exploitation of younger women for sex, Gopal stated that psychologists are frequently interested in whether there was a process of grooming, influence, or boundary-testing designed to reduce resistance and increase compliance.

"What makes these allegations particularly troubling is the apparent power differential. A senior police general occupies a position associated with authority, legitimacy, and public trust. Psychological research consistently shows that status can create opportunities for influence that are unavailable to ordinary individuals," she noted.

For Gopal, the concern is therefore not merely about sexual behaviour, but about the possible misuse of authority in relationships where one party enjoys significantly greater social power than the other.

Despite threats and intimidation tactics employed by powerful people such as Sibiya, Bolhuis believes that more young people and other victims of sexual exploitation are bound to come out in the open.

"Young women and children who are sexually assaulted are usually extremely manipulated and influenced. And the moment they see that a child would say something, they are threatened immediately. They're told, 'We will kill your parents; we will do this, that, and the other'," said Bolhuis. 

Sibiya's formal bail hearing will be heard on September 29 and remains in custody at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria until the bail proceedings.