Sibiya and Cele drawn into controversial UCT rape case

Graduate threatens legal action to get answers on cellphone probe

- By Setumo Stone

The abandoned rape case against a University of Cape Town (UCT) academic, already mired in allegations of institutional obstruction involving an offer to drop charges in exchange for a degree, has taken a new turn.

The complainant has dragged suspended deputy national police commisioner and corruption-accused Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya into the alleged sabotage of her docket. She has also accused former minister of police Bheki Cele of being complicit in the alleged sabotaging of the case.

This is despite police insiders limiting Sibiya's involvement to the escalation of the case to the office of National Police Commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola, who then delegated the matter to Sibiya in his capacity as head of detectives.

Sunday World understands that upon receipt of the docket, Sibiya assigned one of his senior investigators to reexamine the case. According to police sources, after a thorough investigation, which included interviewing six newly identified witnesses, the team could not find substantive evidence to support the complainant's version of events.

This new information stands in stark contrast to the allegations made in a formal letter of demand from the complainant on Sunday August 17, to, among others, Western Cape police boss Lt-Gen Thembisile Patekile, to confirm the existence of, among others the records of the cellphone towers confirming the location and the date of her and the perpetrator during the alleged rape incident.