EMPD head reveals Julius Mkhwanazi blatantly defied instructions due to political favour

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD)'s head - Isaac Mapiyeye - has revealed how one of his subordinates, Julius Mkhwanazi, blatantly defied his instructions due to political favour he had from certain council members.

Mapiyeye is set to resume and conclude his testimony before the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria on Friday.

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Much of Mapiyeye’s testimony was centred around Mkhwanazi, who was appointed acting EMPD head after Mapiyeye was placed on precautionary suspension in 2024.

This, after a female staffer accused Mapiyeye of sexual misconduct.

More than a year later, the City of Ekurhuleni has yet to conclude its internal investigation into the allegations.

Mkhwanazi, who has been placed on special leave after being implicated in the Madlanga Commission, stands accused of assisting criminally accused tender tycoon Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, allowing him to operate with impunity in the city.

Mapiyeye revealed Mkhwanazi had forged and signed off on two fraudulent memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Matlala.

The MOUs, signed in 2021, would see two of Matlala’s companies, Medicare Emergency Medical Services and Cat VIP Protection, provide services to EMPD in exchange for assistance from the metro police.

Mkhwanazi is also accused of fitting blue lights in some of Matlala’s private security vehicles, an allegation Mapiyeye said Mkhwanazi has contended.

“Brigadier Mkhwanazi denied having installed these lights.”

He claimed Mkhwanazi was a law unto himself.

“Since 2021, it appears that Brigadier Mkhwanazi had a resolve to operate independent of the EMPD structure and, for all intents and purposes, without any accountability.”

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