SAPS explains officer’s throat gesture at Sibiya court case
The South African Police Service has clarified that a viral video of an officer making a throat-slitting gesture in court was actually an operational signal. Officials stated the officer was coordinating security positioning for prosecutors and investigators.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the importance of public perception and the potential for misinterpretation of non-verbal communication in high-stakes legal environments.
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
In a statement on Tuesday, SAPS spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe confirmed the man was a police officer attached to a task team.
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