Suspended Julius Mkhwanazi, a senior officer in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), faced intense questioning at the Madlanga Commission over his alleged role in events surrounding the death of Emmanuel Mbense.
Mkhwanazi testified that he arrived at a scene in Brakpan at approximately 2AM after being contacted by informer Jaco Hannekom, who allegedly reported the recovery of a truck containing stolen goods at Mbense’s residence.
He insisted that the operation was not an official EMPD operation, despite finding members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), EMPD officers, and private security personnel already present at the scene.
⚖️ Commissioners Question Lack of Records
Mkhwanazi told the commission he rushed to the scene without knowing who was involved or whether EMPD officers had participated. He described arriving to find nine white men present and initially could not confirm whether private security figure Etienne Van de Walt was among them, later conceding he might have been present.
Commissioners raised concerns that no official records were created about the operation, despite its alleged success in recovering stolen goods.
Mkhwanazi said informer Hannekom had a history of providing reliable information, which is why he responded without requesting further details.
He admitted that:
He added no operational value upon arrival He did not document the scene No EMPD reports were filed the following day
Claims of Torture, Murder, and Body Disposal
The central allegation stems from testimony by Marius van der Merwe, who testified anonymously as Witness D.
Van der Merwe alleged that Emmanuel Mbense was tortured and killed during the operation and claimed that Mkhwanazi ordered him to dispose of the body in a dam to conceal the alleged murder.
Mkhwanazi has firmly denied these allegations, stating he never issued any instruction to dump the body.
Weeks after giving evidence to the commission, Van der Merwe was shot dead outside his home in Brakpan, raising further concerns about witness safety and intimidation.
Investigators Challenge Mkhwanazi’s Version
Evidence leader Sello challenged Mkhwanazi’s claim that he arrived without prior knowledge of the operation, describing his version of events as untrue.
Another commission official, Baloyi, accused Mkhwanazi of being untruthful and suggested he had prior knowledge of the individuals involved.
The Madlanga Commission continues to hear testimony as investigators attempt to establish the truth behind the alleged torture, murder, and possible cover-up.
Crime Connect News 
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