Ekurhuleni Metro Police deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi is expected to appear at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi is expected to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning to face charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice following his arrest on Saturday morning.
The arrest follows damning allegations that emerged during his three days of testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, linking him to robbery, murder, corruption and kidnapping.
Police categorically stated that his arrest was not linked to evidence presented at the commission regarding the death of suspected robber Emmanuel Mbense, or the blue light scandal.
Mkhwanazi faced scrutiny at the commission over his alleged role in death of Mbense, who was allegedly tortured by the EMPD officers in April 2022. He was accused of ordering metro police to dump Mbense's corpse into a Brakpan river.
He told the commission he rushed to the scene at 2am after receiving a call from the late informer Jaco Hannekom. Hannekom had informed him of “successes” in crime-fighting and asked him to come and witness them.
On arrival, Mkhwanazi said he spotted at least nine white men at the scene and felt comfortable. He said he stayed only briefly because he was angry with Hannekom for waking him for nothing. He denied issuing instructions to dispose of Mbense’s body in the river.
He also faced intense questioning from the commission regarding the theft of R14.9-million in precious stones belonging to Peter Prinsloo, a private property owner in Rosebank, where two metro police officers conducted a raid.
The precious stones went missing after officers Adrian McKenzie and Keisher Leigh-Stolls removed them from the property.
The pair is currently under investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and was previously arrested.
IPID officers recovered precious stones worth R40,000 from McKenzie’s vehicle, but the majority of them are still missing.
IPID senior investigator Thulani Magagula recently testified that McKenzie claimed the stones were used for decorations during the night.
Mkhwanazi has been accused of deploying the officers to commit armed robbery at Prinsloo’s property.
This followed his testimony that he dispatched the two officers to be part of a joint operation in Johannesburg, which he said included stakeholders such as the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and the Gauteng Traffic Department.
However, the commission discredited his version of a joint operation, stating that only two EMPD officers and a civilian named Etienne van der Walt conducted the raid.
Mkhwanazi was also questioned regarding the promotion of 55 officials in his department in 2023, amid allegations that he abused his powers to promote people loyal to him.
He has also been at the centre of the controversial blue lights scandal involving alleged crime mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. He allegedly facilitated the registration of vehicles linked to Matlala’s company in the municipality’s name and had them fitted with blue lights.
The commission heard on Thursday that he had facilitated the issuing of peace officer cards to Matlala and some of his company personnel.His testimony, based on his supplementary statement, was never concluded. He is expected to appear again on a date yet to be determined by the commission.
Without naming Mkhwanazi as he is still due in court, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the SAPS’s Madlanga Commission Task Team arrested a 50-year-old senior municipal official for fraud, corruption and defeating or obstructing the ends of justice at his Gauteng home on Saturday morning.
"The task team is still searching for other suspects linked to the case. These arrests emanate from an ongoing investigation into corruption within EMPD," she said.
Mathe said the matter has no connection to any IPID investigation or any evidence led at the commission.
"Simply put, it has nothing to do with the killing of Emmanuel Mbense or the blue light case. More details will be provided on Monday," she said.
The DA in Ekurhuleni welcomed Mkhwanazi's arrest, stating it follows years of sustained effort by the DA to root out corruption in the city.
"Upon receiving information about the blue light saga in February 2023, the DA caucus acted to ensure disciplinary proceedings took place. Mere weeks later, the ANC and EFF conspired to remove us from government, allowing corruption to continue without disruption," said the party's mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane.
ActionSA mayoral candidate Xolani Khumalo called for the immediate termination of Mkhwanazi's employment following his arrest.
"Mkhwanazi has brought both the EMPD and the City of Ekurhuleni into disrepute. He has forfeited all credibility and cannot remain in the City’s employ at taxpayers’ expense. The City Manager must act without delay and terminate his employment," Khumalo said.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za