By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Embattled Julius Mkhwanazi has been fired as Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief after 10 months on paid suspension.
Mkhwanazi was suspended in November 2025 after allegations were made against him and rogue group at the Madlanga commission of Inquiry.
The allegations levelled against Mkhwanazi and the rogue group include:
- Mkhwananzi was an accessory to a murder. This murder happened on 15 April 2022 in the Brakpan area. The victim was tortured on the scene, with a rubber tyre tube pulled over his face to suffocate him. The body was found in a dam. Arriving at the scene, Mkhwanazi proceeded to direct them to clean it up. According to IPID’s probe, “rogue” EMPD officers have been linked to the murder.
- IPID has also linked the EMPD’s specialised services unit, under Mkhwanazi’s command, to the theft of a truck and its load in Putfontein, Benoni, and the kidnapping of the driver, in March 2023.
- The same rogue unit was involved in the Precious Stones case, which occurred in the Hillbrow-Kensington area in 2024, where police are accused of stealing precious stones worth R45-million.
- Mkhwanazi and more than 200 of his officers refused to undergo vetting and have their fingerprints taken. Up until September 2025, the vetting process had not been completed.
Mkhwanazi’s dismissal comes days after he was granted R10,000 bail in a separate blue-lights corruption case but remained in custody after being denied bail in the murder case involving businessman Emmanuel Mbense.
The City said on Friday that City Manager Kagiso Lerutla made the decision after considering a detailed submission from the Human Resources Department, internal disciplinary proceedings involving Mkhwanazi and evidence presented before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
“The City considered, among other factors, the seriousness of the matters, Mr Mkhwanazi’s seniority within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, the connection between the allegations and his official responsibilities, and the resulting impact on the integrity and reputation of the municipality,” the City said in a statement.
It added that the uncertainty surrounding the criminal proceedings had affected the department’s need for stable leadership, an active command presence and ethical leadership.
“The City Manager determined that termination was necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the municipality and the communities it serves,” read the statement.
However, the City stressed that the employment decision should not be interpreted as a finding of criminal guilt.
“The criminal charges against Mr Mkhwanazi remain matters for the courts, and he retains the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty,” the City said.
Mkhwanazi’s dismissal brings his tenure to an end within the EMPD while several criminal proceedings against him remain before the courts.