Madlanga Commission | Mkhwanazi grilled over van Wyk voice notes

The Madlanga Commission has heard a series of voice notes allegedly sent to suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief of Police, Julius Mkhwanazi, by Medicare 24 CEO Mike van Wyk, raising questions about a possible exchange of favours.

In one voice note, van Wyk is heard asking Mkhwanazi to facilitate blue-light privileges for his associate, suggesting he would offer him money in return.

Mkhwanazi has denied receiving kickbacks from van Wyk, saying it would be unlawful for him to grant a civilian blue-light privileges and insisting he does not have the authority to do so.

However, the commission noted that van Wyk’s apparent familiarity in making such requests.

The commission also revealed a WhatsApp message in which van Wyk allegedly instructed Mkhwanazi on what to include in a letter confirming a working relationship between EMPD, Medicare 24, and Anubis Protection Services, another company linked to van Wyk.

The inquiry heard that Mkhwanazi allegedly replicated the suggested wording, almost verbatim, in a letter irregularly validated the relationship on an indefinite basis.

The message was reportedly sent three months after Mkhwanazi had already issued an initial letter confirming the relationship in October 2021.

Mkhwanazi told the commission he does not recall amending the letter, despite it bearing his signature.

“No, I don’t recall but out of what the commissioners and what you have read it shows that I didn’t even write it or it was not even in writing. I may have given one somebody an instruction to do this but maybe it may. It’s not according to what Mike is suggestion,” said Mkhwanazi.

The commission also heard another voice note in which van Wyk allegedly asked whether his new vehicle could be fitted with blue-lights and an EMPD logo.

Mkhwanazi said he could not recall responding but maintained that blue-lights are not intended for private entities.

He added that, at the time, EMPD was engaging stakeholders on a plan to introduce volunteer peace officers, and that van Wyk had expressed interest.

Text messages presented to the commission show Mkhwanazi allegedly assuring van Wyk that official peace officer cards would soon be issued by the city’s then training academy.

When questioned about the legal authority to appoint peace officers, Mkhwanazi said the department’s concept did not extend to granting full powers under the Criminal Procedure Act.

Commission chair, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, criticised Mkhwanazi’s responses as evasive.

Mkhwanazi, however, maintains that he has been truthful and is not attempting to avoid accountability.

“I am aware of that but as I have explained that with us it was not such powers, you see. That’s why I was saying that we were pushing to benchmark with the City of Cape Town where they are volunteering… We can’t give them those powers,” said Mkhwanazi.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao