Julius Mkhwanazi, the suspended deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), has been taken into custody.

According to Athlenda Mathe, the national police spokesperson, the 50-year-old senior municipal official was apprehended on allegations including fraud, corruption, and obstructing justice.

Authorities report that Mkhwanazi was arrested at his Gauteng residence on Saturday morning by the police’s Madlanga Commission Task Team as part of a broader probe into corruption within the EMPD.

Investigations are ongoing, with law enforcement actively seeking additional suspects connected to the case.

Mkhwanazi is scheduled to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 20 April 2026.

Involvement in High-Profile Cases and Commission Hearings

Mkhwanazi has been linked to the 2022 death of Emmanuel Mbense, accused of ordering the disposal of Mbense’s body and concealing the participation of EMPD officers Aiden McKenzie, Kershia-Leigh Stols, and Bafana Twala. He has consistently denied any involvement in the murder.

Recent testimony at the Madlanga Commission also connected Mkhwanazi to a controversial operation involving the alleged theft of precious stones in Johannesburg.

On 11 February 2023, valuable stones worth approximately R14.9 million were reportedly confiscated from Peter Prinsloo’s residence in Killarney. However, only a small portion valued at R40,000 was recovered. CCTV footage reviewed by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) seemingly shows an EMPD officer handing over minerals to Mkhwanazi.

Additionally, Mkhwanazi has refuted claims of his involvement in the alleged kidnapping of EMPD spokesperson Kelebogile Thepa and is under scrutiny for approving 55 questionable promotions within the department, spanning directors, superintendents, and inspectors.

He is also accused of unlawfully authorizing the installation of blue lights on vehicles owned by tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala without the City of Ekurhuleni’s approval.

Allegations of Perjury and Misleading the Commission

This week, Mkhwanazi was cautioned about potentially providing false testimony under oath after inconsistencies emerged in his statements to the Madlanga Commission. He was also accused of misrepresenting facts when seeking a postponement of his testimony, which he denies.

Advocate Mahlape Sello, the commission’s evidence leader, explained that Mkhwanazi initially claimed the deceased family member was his biological mother, not a cousin or stepmother, to justify the postponement. However, subsequent document reviews revealed the deceased was ten years older than Mkhwanazi, raising suspicions of deliberate deception to delay proceedings.

“We concluded that he may have misled the commission, but further investigations are underway,” said Advocate Sello.

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Additional reporting by Molefe Seeletsa

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