Madlanga Commission | Mkhwanazi under fire over contradictory statements

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief of Police, Julius Mkhwanazi, has told the Madlanga Commission that an IPID investigator guided him on how to frame statements related to a controversial 2023 operation.

Mkhwanazi testified at the commission on Wednesday amid scrutiny over inconsistencies in two statements he submitted about the operation.

In an initial statement dated 2 May 2023, Mkhwanazi said Constables Kasher-Lee Stols and Adrian McKenzie informed him about a suspect allegedly selling fake precious stones.

However, in a supplementary statement submitted this year, he said he and the late Chief Inspector, Gerald Maseko, had jointly instructed the constables to investigate the matter, allegedly under the direction of IPID Assistant Director, Thulani Magagula.

Mkhwanazi told the commission that Magagula advised him on how to structure both statements.

Magagula, however, told the commission he only became aware of Mkhwanazi’s presence at the operation in 2025, after a statement submitted by McKenzie.

The commission has also heard allegations that EMPD officers, under Mkhwanazi’s command, stole precious stones worth more than R14 million during the operation.

Questions over Brakpan operation

Mkhwanazi further testified that he was called by late police informant, Jaco Hanekom, to witness what was described as a successful operation in Brakpan in the early hours on the morning.

He said left shortly after arriving, as the operations was led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and not EMPD.

Mkhwanazi admitted he did not record the incident or follow up on it, raising further concerns from the commission.

He told the inquiry that months later, IPID informed him that a person had died during the operation and that he was accused of ordering the removal and dumping of the body in the Nigel River, allegations he denies.

The commission also heard that Constable Stols, claimed she had been called to the scene by Hanekom, who allegedly told her that her Mkhwanazi had been informed.

Mkhwanazi rejected this, saying Stols reported to another officer at the time.

Credibility questioned

Commission Chair, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, criticised Mkhwanazi’s testimony describing it as vague and lacking credibility.

Mkhwanazi, however, maintains he has no knowledge of what transpired, saying he only arrived in the early hours of the morning after being called by Hanekom.

The commission’s evidence leader, Advocate Mahlape Sello, urged the inquiry to reject Mkhwanazi’s version, describing it as evasive.

She referenced testimony from witness D, the late Marius van der Merwe, who alleged that Mkhwanazi instructed him to remove a body from the scene.

The commission heard that the deceased was 51-year-old Brakpan shop owner, Emmanuel Mbense, who was allegedly tortured and killed during the operation.

His body was later discovered in the Nigel River.

Van der Merwe was assassinated in December last year, shortly after testifying before the commission.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao