Madlanga Commission | Mkhwanazi accused of evading testimony

The Madlanga Commission has raised concerns that suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief of Police, Julius Mkhwanazi, may have misled the inquiry regarding his absence from proceedings.

Mkhwanazi had told the commission, a day before he was due to testify, that he needed to attend his mother’s funeral.

However, the commission says records obtained from Home Affairs indicate that Petunia Mkhwanazi, whom Mkhwanazi had previously named as his mother, was in fact only a decade older than him, raising questions about his account.

Mkhwanazi later clarified that Petunia was actually his stepmother, who raised him from a young age. He said his birth certificate lists Mariah and William Mkhwanazi as his parents, whom he claims are in fact his grandparents.

He urged the commission not to probe further into what he described as his family’s “politics”, saying the line of questioning was uncomfortable and reopened old wounds.

The commission has now instructed Mkhwanazi to submit an affidavit supporting his claims, after evidence leaders suggested he could be held in contempt.

Testimony before the commission

Mkhwanazi also addressed allegations relating to recruitment processes within the EMPD, maintaining that he merely completed processes initiated by suspended police chief, Isaac Mapiyeye.

He testified that the appointments was already underway when he assumed the acting chief of police role, following Mapiyeye’s suspension.

Mkhwanazi rejected claims by former EMPD chief, Revo Spies, that he had overstepped his authority, accusing Spies of lying.

He told the commission that he was mandated to finalise long-outstanding recruitment processes, some dating back several years and that he followed proper procedures in doing so.

Mkhwanazi added that he occasionally had to act as head of the department’s HR function during this period.

Concerns over training and qualifications

Mkhwanazi further told the commission that some senior EMPD officials lack the required qualifications to serve in metro or traffic policing roles.

He stressed that officers should be trained at accredited government institutions, warning that reliance on private training providers is improper.

“You can’t be trained as a metro police or as a traffic officer by a private institution. You go there to capacitate or upskill yourself but you start from a government training institution. It may be our college or the RTMC college because all our college are now managed by RTMC or the the different traffic departments before the formations of the metro police departments,” said Mkhwanazi.

He also accused the training division under previous leadership of failing to implement a law enforcement skills programme, despite directives from the national police commissioner to reskill officers.

Denial of kidnapping claims

Mkhwanazi also denied any involvement in the alleged kidnapping of EMPD spokesperson, Kelebogile Thepa.

This follows Thepa’s testimony that she was attacked after raising concerns internally about Mkhwanazi’s alleged links to the blue-light escort saga.

Mkhwanazi dismissed her account, claiming her emotional testimony was not genuine.

Carrim unable to testify

Meanwhile, the commission confirmed that controversial North West businessman, Suleiman Carrim, will not appear as scheduled after reportedly suffering a suspected heart attack.

Carrim was due to resume his testimony this week but is currently recovering in hospital after reportedly collapsing at a gym in Sandton.

Commission spokesperson, Jeremy Michaels, says the inquiry has been informed that Carrim is unable to testify and is awaiting formal communication from his legal team.

He added that it would be premature to indicate when Carrim will return, but told Ynews that engagements are underway to determine a new date.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao