Dismissed court interpreter rearrested in Thulamahashe
A warrant of arrest was issued against Timothy Sibuyi after he had failed to appear in court and sent no explanation. He was charged with contempt of court.
The Mpumalanga Hawks rearrested Timothy Sibuyi (49), the former Mhala Regional Court interpreter, in Thulamahashe on October 7 for failing to appear in court on corruption charges on September 23.
According to the Hawks, Sibuyi failed to send any notice explaining why he could not be in court, and subsequently a warrant for his arrest was authorised. His R5 000 bail was forfeited to the state.
He was charged with contempt of court after failing to appear. This was the second time he had failed to attend court, however, on his previous court date on September 6, he had managed to send in a doctor’s sick note.
Sibuyi was driven from Thulamahashe to the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court the same day he was rearrested. He was not asked to plead to both the corruption and contempt of court charges and was remanded in custody, pending his court appearance today, October 15. The outcome was not yet known by the time of publishing.
When the complainant offered him R1 000, he refused, stating that the money was too little, and demanded R2 500.
Sibuyi was first arrested on September 18, 2023, after he had allegedly demanded R2 500 from the brother of an accused person who was facing a charge of rape, which had occurred on November 17, 2022. “Sibuyi invited him to his office at the Mhala Magistrate’s Court. He told him that since his brother was not legally represented by Legal Aid Attorney, he could arrange a representative, but that he had to pay gratification,” the provincial Hawks’ spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, said in a statement. “When the complainant offered him R1 000, he refused, stating that the money was too little, and demanded R2 500.”
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She said the suspect’s family raised the money and deposited R2 500 into Sibuyi’s bank account. The complainant reported the matter to the Mhala Police Station and the case was transferred to the Nelspruit Hawks on September 18, 2023. After hearing that a corruption case had been opened against him, Sibuyi allegedly went to the complainant’s mother and paid R2 000 back, and promised to settle the outstanding amount later.
This is not an isolated incident. Corruption will not stop if we as citizens do not report it and say enough is enough,” said Gerber.
Following his arrest that day, Sibuyi was hauled before an internal disciplinary hearing where he was found guilty and dismissed from the Department of Justice.
The provincial Hawks’ head, Major General Nicholas Gerber, has urged members of the community who might have had a similar experience to come forward. “This is not an isolated incident. Corruption will not stop if we as citizens do not report it and say enough is enough,” said Gerber.
He further warned all officials to serve the country with integrity. “You are employed to serve your community, not to enrich yourself by exploiting people’s vulnerabilities.”
