Forensic report comes to the defence of a corruption-accused EMPD top cop

JOHANNESBURG - A forensic report due to be tabled in the Ekurhuleni metro this week has advised one of Ekurhuleni's top cops, Julius Mkhwanazi, who was once accused of dishing out blue lights to his friends to now lodge a complaint against senior metro police officials for leaking his case to the media.

EWN has caught sight of the report, titled: “Forensic Investigation Report Into Allegations of Defamatory Statements Made Against the City, Breaches of the Protection of Personal Information Act and Irregularities Relating to the Engagement and of Payments to Attorneys, Majang Incorporated in and about May/August 2023,” is dated June 2024.

In the report, Mkhwanazi the deputy metro chief, is told accusations of him unlawfully dishing out blue lights to third parties and allowing them to impersonate police officers should have never been leaked to the media, it calls on the embattled policeman to take action against his colleagues for the revelations being made public. 

At the time an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate [IPID], recommended that the National Prosecuting Authority [NPA] should also probe the policeman.

Several EMPD officials received a copy of the original charge sheet.

And while it suggests he should be able to go after those who violated his privacy, the report fails to pinpoint how this would be possible.

“It was agreed with the city that it was impractical and futile to suspect that either of those senior officials were responsible for leaking the document to the media.” 

Mkhwanazi is also accused of producing a fraudulent memorandum of understanding to allow private security company CAT VIP to use EMPD vehicles.

“Mkhwanazi should lodge a formal complaint against the EMPD senior officials, who are responsible for the breaches identified in this report. Reporting the matter relating to the leaking of personal information to the information regulator South Africa for further investigation,” reads the report.

The “highly confidential” charge sheet also contained Mkhwanazi’s employee number, which this investigation says is personal and private information and contravenes the Protection Of Personal Information [POPI] Act.

In October, EWN reported that police watchdog IPID had made recommendations for Mkhwanazi to be charged for dishing out blue lights to third parties unlawfully, but the understanding is that the city is yet to move in that regard. 

Instead, Mkhwanazi was promoted to serve as EMPD deputy chief, despite the allegations of gross abuse of State resources.

Moreover, he is now likely to be the next line should the current equally embattled police head Isaac Mapiyeye be booted out of office.

IPID subsequently recommended that disciplinary steps be taken against Mkhwanazi for contravening the Metro Police Disciplinary Procedure Collective Agreement, which states officials should conduct themselves with integrity.

IPID has also referred the docket to the director of public prosecutions (DPP) for a decision.

However, insiders in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) could not find the docket in their records.

To date, the city is yet to act on the IPID's recommendations against Mkhwanazi.