Ekurhuleni metro has suspended the acting head of its police department, Julius Mkhwanazi, after damning allegations of unlawful conduct levelled against him by witnesses at the Madlanga commission.
“The City of Ekurhuleni confirms that deputy chief of police Mkhwanazi has been placed on suspension, effective November 11.
“This action comes as the city leadership closely monitors serious allegations emerging from the ongoing commission of inquiry into alleged criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system [Madlanga commission],” a metro statement said.
Former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Revo Spies testified before the commission on Tuesday about the systematic failure of disciplinary procedures in the department, which even allowed convicted criminals — without providing proof of expungement of a criminal record — to serve as police officers.
Spies told the commission that the department under Mkhwanazi’s leadership had criminal elements who allegedly approved tenders with inflated prices and protected “rogue” police officers.
“Historically there are manufacturers in the Cape and Gauteng who manufacture our uniforms, for instance FG Uniforms. The latest uniform tender, which was adjudicated by Sarah Chitja [promoted by Mkhwanazi], has been awarded to an electrical contractor who doesn’t have any experience. They buy it from manufacturers at inflated prices,” he said.
He said the same happened in a tender issued for radio batteries; it was issued to a contractor that sold the products at “four times” the original price.
Spies, who retired in February, said he was “pushed” out of the department and took early retirement after the metro council approved a change in the EMPD leadership structure, which nullified his position.
Spies further told the commission that in the new structure the EMPD head no longer reported to the city manager but to the head of community safety.
Mkhwanazi, acting head of community safety, effectively held two positions after an unlawful administrative process, he said.
When asked why no one challenged unlawful acts in the department, he told the commission the officers were afraid of Mkhwanazi and his group.
“There is a criminal enterprise that has been operating for the last three to four years in the department.”
He said anyone who touched Mkhwanazi and Deon Singh, who also works in the EMPD, was bullied and pushed out of the department.
Spies told the commission Mkhwanazi was implicated in a clean-up of a murder scene involving three police officers and ordered that the body of a murdered civilian be dumped in a dam. Two of the officers implicated in the murder remain in service.
The metro said it had suspended Mkhwanazi after recommendations from an internal audit investigation into allegations of misconduct.
“The suspension is an administrative measure intended to safeguard the integrity of the disciplinary process and should not be construed as a finding of guilt. Formal disciplinary proceedings will now follow, in line with applicable labour laws and municipal regulations,” the statement reads.
The metro’s city manager, Kagiso Lerutla, said the testimony emerging from the Madlanga commission was shocking and deeply concerning.
“It points to systemic issues that this administration will not tolerate. We are unequivocally committed to clean governance, accountability and restoring public trust in our municipality,” Lerutla said.
He said the metro would launch an independent internal investigation into new allegations of wrongdoing within the EMPD.
“We will act decisively on its findings, without fear or favour.”
In 2023, Mkhwanazi was found to have unlawfully fitted blue lights, reserved for law enforcement officers, to cars belonging to attempted murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Mkhwanazi, when probed, produced a memorandum purported to have been signed by senior EMPD officials sealing a working relationship between the department and Matlala’s company.
EMPD head Isaac Mapiyeye told the commission the memorandum was fraudulent.
Spies said he and Mapiyeye could not enforce discipline because Mkhwanazi and the officers had been protected by former city manager Imogen Mashazi.
Spies told the commission those who supported Mapiyeye were victimised in the department.
He told the commission that his wife, who still works for EMPD, was demoted to the position of a packer after he left.
