SAPS explains officer’s throat gesture at Sibiya court case

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has clarified a viral video showing a police officer making a gesture across his throat during court proceedings involving deputy national police commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya, saying the gesture was operational and was not intended as a threat.

The clip, filmed during Sibiya’s court appearance on Monday, was circulated widely on social media after a man dressed in a blue suit was seen drawing his hand across his throat, prompting questions about what the gesture meant.

Wait a minute what is that man in a blue suit doing? Is he threatening someone? Is that allowed in court? pic.twitter.com/E1ePNkAjUb— Africa Research Desk (@MightiJamie) September 29, 2026

In a statement on Tuesday, SAPS spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe confirmed the man was a police officer attached to a task team.

“The man wearing the blue suit is a member of the South African Police Service and forms part of the combat team of the commission’s recommendations task team (CRTT),” said Mathe.

She said the gesture was intended to communicate with an investigating officer about the positioning of police personnel responsible for protecting prosecutors and investigators.

“The gestures seen in the video were operational in nature. They were intended to communicate to the investigating officer that the protectors assigned to the prosecutors and investigators should take up their positions and remain on standby to facilitate the immediate departure from court after the announcement of the postponement of the bail proceedings,” Mathe said.

She said the interaction related to the co-ordination and positioning of SAPS personnel after the court proceedings, and was neither a threat nor an attempt to interfere with proceedings.

SAPS acknowledged that the gesture could be misinterpreted and could raise concerns when viewed without the context provided by police.

Mathe said the officer had since been reminded to exercise caution when communicating nonverbally, particularly in sensitive environments such as courts.

The warning was intended to ensure gestures used by officers could not easily be misunderstood or interpreted out of context.