Ekuruhleni metro police deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi arrested again

By Palesa Matlala

• The Independent Police Investigative Directorate arrested Julius Mkhwanazi and four others, including a South African Police Service officer, over Emmanuel Mbense’s 2022 murder.

• Investigators allege Mbense was tortured before his body was dumped in a dam. The suspects are expected to face murder and defeating the ends of justice charges.

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi is back in handcuffs.

The senior officer was arrested on Wednesday with four other suspects in connection with the alleged torture and murder of businessman Emmanuel Mbense.

This is Mkhwanazi’s fourth arrest in four months. He is already out on bail in three other criminal cases.

He is facing charges linked to the blue light scandal, the alleged R14.9-million Killarney precious stones heist and internal disciplinary proceedings.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate IPID) made the arrests and the other suspects include a South African Police Service officer and a private citizen.

They are expected to face charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice.

Police were preparing to take the five suspects to the Brakpan police station.

Investigators allege that Mbense was tortured to death in 2022 before his body was dumped in a dam.

The alleged killing is said to have involved members of the South African Police Service, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department and private civilians.

The case first came into the spotlight during testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where witnesses linked law enforcement officials to Mbense’s death.

Wednesday’s arrest adds another chapter to Mkhwanazi’s growing legal troubles.

It is the fourth time in four months that he has been arrested.

He was arrested once in April and twice in July.

Despite those arrests, he remains out on bail in all the cases.

Mkhwanazi already faces several charges, including fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

He has also been arrested in connection with the blue light scandal and the alleged R14.9-million Killarney precious stones heist.

Some of the suspects arrested on Wednesday are also accused in the precious stones theft case.

In that matter, Mkhwanazi, former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department officer Keisha Leigh Stols and suspended officer Adrian Mackenzie face robbery and theft charges.

He is also facing disciplinary proceedings within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department.

The latest arrest places one of the country’s most senior suspended metro police officers at the centre of yet another high-profile criminal investigation.

The story is still developing.

Pictured above: Julius Mkhwanazi.

Image source: File.