Sibiya denies existence of so-called ‘Big Five’ cartel

Suspended National Deputy Police Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya has again denied the existence of men referred to as the ‘Big Five’.

He appeared before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations of criminal infiltration, corruption and political interference in the justice system for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

Sibiya acknowledged the existence of many criminal syndicates in Gauteng but denied the existence of the ‘Big Five’.

This is despite some of the country’s top police officials including National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi making submissions about their existence.

African National Congress (ANC) Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli asked Sibiya whether he thought those who said the ‘Big Five’ existed misled the country.

Ntuli: “Is it your own submission to us and the people of South Africa that the head of Crime Intelligence Lt-General Khumalo, Lt-General Mkhwanazi and the National Commissioner Fannie Masemola are essentially misleading the country when in their various submissions they make reference to the existence of the ‘Big Five’.”

Lt-General Sibiya: “Chair I have a document and the document that was presented by Crime Intelligence doesn’t have the ‘Big Five’.”