Madlanga Commission | EMPD official says her life was threatened after exposing alleged corruption

November 14, 2025

It was an emotional day at the Madlanga Commission, where the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Head of Media and Public relations, Kelebogile Thepa, revealed that she was almost assassinated after exposing alleged corruption involving Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi.

Thepa testified that she had alerted the EMPD about a media enquiry that raised concerns about the department’s blue-light saga — a disclosure she believes placed her and others under the “threatening, watchful eye” of powerful individuals.

She says that once it became clear who had provided the information, several senior figures, including Mkhwanazi, were unhappy.

Fighting back tears, Thepa recounted that in July 2023, three men confronted her while she was seated in her sister’s car outside her home.

She told the commission that while she was held at gunpoint, the men made remarks implying she was considered a problem within the EMPD. Thepa says the trauma was so severe that she eventually lost consciousness.

“I was numb, mute, non-responsive… trying to make sense of what was happening. I was so out of it I couldn’t make a sound,” she said.

Thepa said that after the vehicle stopped in Ivory Park, the assailants demanded access to her phone, insisting it contained information they were looking for.

“They took my phone and my wallet. What puzzled me is that my bank cards were there, and they didn’t take a cent. I was also in my sister’s brand-new car — they didn’t take that either.
All they wanted was the phone and whatever information they believed was on it,” she explained.

Thepa also revealed that a vehicle allegedly linked to a Mkhwanazi had been following her for days before the attack.

She added that she lived in constant fear, describing open threats in the office about how “easy” it would be to get rid of her.

Meanwhile, Witness D, who also testified at the commission today, claims that criminals are often given vehicles fitted with blue lights at the EMPD.

He added that these individuals would also receive letters allegedly signed by Mkhwanazi, enabling them to impersonate police officers.

Witness D testified off-camera to protect his identity.

He also described the immediate aftermath of an alleged extrajudicial killing, stating that one of the officers involved, Vianre Pretorius, suggested contacting General Feroz Khan to “fix” the matter.