Julius Mkhwanazi must answer to additional charge in criminal case

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi will have to answer to an additional charge in his criminal case.

The State has added a charge of unlawful possession of ammunition to the charge sheet.

A large amount of ammunition was found at his Alberton home on Saturday when he was arrested.

But his defence team argues this isn’t unusual, adding that he was lawfully in possession of the ammunition.

Mkhwanazi, along with his co-accused, Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla, are expected to return to the Boksburg Magistrates Court on Friday to continue their bail application.

They face charges including fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

Mkhwanazi’s defence team told the court that the State added a fourth charge against him without prior notice, prompting the court to adjourn proceedings, so the initial affidavit in response can be amended.

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On Monday, the State had indicated it would investigate to determine the circumstances surrounding the ammunition cache found at Mkhwanazi’s house.

The State alleges he wasn’t licensed to have the ammunition, questioning the legality of his claim that the ammunition was left behind when State-issued firearms were collected when he was suspended in 2025.

Furthermore, the State said there was an understanding that the armoury division at EMPD would collect the ammunition at a later stage.

Mkhwanazi insists the ammunition was issued lawfully before his suspension.

He added that he’s been barred from accessing or having contact with anyone at the EMPD, which is in line with the terms of his suspension.

The State is expected to pull out all stops to keep Mkhwanazi and co-accused behind bars when the hearing resumes.

STATE OUTLINES LERUTLA’S CHARGES

The State has outlined more details about the charges against Lerutla linked to an alleged identity-switch scheme in 2019.

Lerutla was arrested for speeding and released on R1,000 bail, but the State claims his co-accused, Mkhwanazi, arranged for an impersonator to appear in court on his behalf.

He is accused of paying about R400,000 to avoid having his fingerprints taken, allegedly to protect his chances of securing a CFP post at the time.

The court also heard that Lerutla was allegedly involved in a 2021 culpable homicide case after a crash that killed another driver, and that he later paid a tow-truck driver to remove the body.

Lerutla and Mkhwanazi are due back in the Boksburg Magistrates Court this morning, where the State is opposing bail.