The DA in Ekurhuleni has renewed its call for the City of Ekurhuleni to dismiss suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi following his latest arrest by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

The arrest is the latest in a series of serious criminal matters involving Mkhwanazi over the past four months.

Mkhwanazi was arrested again on August 5 alongside four other suspects in connection with the alleged 2022 murder of Emmanuel Mbense.

They appeared in the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on August 6, and the case was postponed to August 13 for a bail application.

In a statement, the DA questioned why Mkhwanazi continues to receive a salary while on suspension and called on Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza to initiate steps to terminate his employment.

The party described the latest arrest as further evidence of what it called a leadership and accountability crisis within the EMPD.

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The DA further noted that this is the fourth time Mkhwanazi has been arrested in connection with serious criminal allegations and said the city should no longer delay disciplinary action.

The City of Ekurhuleni had not responded to questions at the time of publication.

Mkhwanazi’s mounting legal challenges

• Mkhwanazi was first arrested in April alongside Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla on charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice. The charges relate to a reopened 2019 case in which Lerutla allegedly failed to appear in court after a speeding offence.

Investigators allege that Lerutla and Mkhwanazi arranged for another person to impersonate Lerutla in court while he attended an interview for the position of chief financial officer. Both men were subsequently granted bail of R30 000 each in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court.

• In early July, Mkhwanazi was arrested again and appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court with co-accused in connection with the alleged theft of precious stones worth R14.9m during what investigators believe was a fake police operation in Killarney, Johannesburg. He was granted bail of R5 000.
• Later that month, Mkhwanazi was arrested alongside former municipal manager Imogen Mashazi, former head of legal services Advocate Kemi Behari and former head of human resources Linda Gqxasheka.

The four appeared in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice. They were each granted bail of R50 000. Mkhwanazi remains suspended from the EMPD while disciplinary proceedings continue.

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