By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and his four co-accused will remain behind bars until their court appearance next week.
Mkhwanazi appeared in Brakpan magistrate court on Thursday, alongside former EMPD officer Keisha-Leigh Stols, EMPD officer Adrian MacKenzie, SAPS officer Bhekokwakhe Sibande and civilian Cobus Janse van Rensburg.
The five were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the 2022 murder of Emmanuel Mbense. He was tortured to death in Brakpan before his body was dumped in a dam.
They are facing charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice.
During the proceedings, State told the court that they face a Schedule 6 charge of murder, which requires accused persons to prove exceptional circumstances to be granted bail.
State prosecutor Nceba Ntelwa informed the court that the State would oppose bail should any of the accused apply for their release.
“The case is a schedule 6, there’s murder that happened in the course of robbery by a group of people.”
“The state opposes all bail releases on all applications if they apply for bail,” he told the court.
However, lawyers representing the accused challenged the State’s position.
They argued that the charge sheet does not justify the classification of the matter as a Schedule 6 offence and that insufficient information had been provided to support the State’s opposition to bail.
Advocate Peter Wilkins, representing Mkhwanazi, questioned the State’s decision to oppose bail.
“We are perplexed because in previous Schedule 6 matters involving Mr Mkhwanazi the State did not oppose bail,” Wilkins argued.
The arrest marks the fourth criminal case involving Mkhwanazi.
Advocate Crystal Keevy, representing Stols and MacKenzie, also argued that the State had not provided adequate grounds for opposing bail and said the defence was not in a position to proceed with a bail application.
Whilst Gerhald Nel, representing Van Rensburg, argued that the defence had not been furnished with sufficient information to understand the basis on which the State intended to oppose bail.
The state said, the burden rests on the defence to prove that exceptional circumstances exist to justify their release on bail.
The matter was postponed to 13 August for the accused to bring formal bail applications. All five accused will remain in custody.
Meanwhile Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said they’re pursuing several leads after the eThekwini Ward 17 councillor Sibusiso Khwela was gunned down.
Netshiunda said they’re taking statements from people who were queuing to see the councillor at the time of the attack.
Khwela was shot and killed on Thursday, 06 August 2026, at his offices in Klaarwater, west of Durban. His death has sent shockwaves among community members.