Madlanga Commission: Mkhwanazi clarifies skipping testimony due to stepmother’s death

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi has clarified that he asked for his testimony at the Madlanga Commission to be postponed due to the death of his stepmother and not his biological mother.

Mkhwanazi was due to appear before the commission in March, but he was granted a postponement after telling the commissioners that his mother had died.

ALSO READ: Testimony of suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi postponed to April

Evidence leader Mahlape Sello said that according to the death certificate presented to the commission, the person who died was only 10 years older than Mkhwanazi, pointing to a discrepancy.

“And that raised the issue about whether or not Mr Mkhwanazi lied to the commission, misled this commission in an attempt to avoid appearing before this commission, and we concluded that he potentially may have done so.”

Mkhwanazi said he didn’t mislead the commission, saying the woman who died was married to his father and had raised him as a mother since he was seven years old.

“I’m still saying that [she’s my mother]. She raised me. She’s my mother. Yes, I was not born out of her, but she raised me since I was young. She took over from my grandmother, who raised me.”