Mkhwanazi alleges ‘bigger plot’ against him in fifth arrest
Mkhwanazi alleges ‘bigger plot’ against him in fifth arrest as suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi faces yet another legal battle, this time over allegations linked to the fitting of blue emergency lights to vehicles associated with businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Julius Mkhwanazi appeared in the Germiston Magistrates’ Court on Friday alongside Matlala following the latest arrest warrant served against him.
The suspended senior police official has denied wrongdoing and told the court that he believes the latest case is part of a broader attempt to damage his prospects of applying for the permanent Ekurhuleni Police Chief position when the post becomes available later this year.
His latest appearance comes after a series of arrests and allegations that have placed his career and future in law enforcement under intense scrutiny.
Julius Mkhwanazi arrest adds to legal troubles
The latest Julius Mkhwanazi arrest is his fifth, according to current court reporting.
The arrest warrant was served on Thursday in connection with the controversial blue-lights matter. Mkhwanazi was reportedly already in custody in connection with another case when the latest warrant was executed.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson Lizzy Suping said three suspects were involved in the latest investigation. Two suspects, including an EMPD official and a private citizen, face allegations of fraud and corruption, while another EMPD official was also arrested.
The new case has emerged from allegations surrounding several vehicles connected to Matlala’s security company.
Fifth arrest follows multiple previous cases
Mkhwanazi has already been arrested in connection with several other matters.
He was first arrested in April on allegations involving fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice. That case involved allegations that he and then Ekurhuleni municipal manager Kagiso Lerutla paid a man to impersonate Lerutla in relation to a speeding matter.
He was arrested again in July alongside former Ekurhuleni municipal manager Dr Imogen Mashazi, head of legal services Kemi Behari and suspended human resources executive Linda Gxasheka.
Those allegations relate to claims that disciplinary proceedings against Mkhwanazi were deliberately halted after investigators and IPID had recommended action against him in the blue-lights controversy.
After being released on bail in that matter, Mkhwanazi was reportedly rearrested over a separate investigation involving the alleged theft of precious stones in a Killarney flat.
He was subsequently arrested in connection with the 2022 killing of businessman Emmanuel Mbense and remains involved in bail proceedings arising from that case.
Madlanga Commission revelations put blue lights under spotlight
The Madlanga Commission has played a significant role in bringing the latest allegations into the public spotlight.
Mkhwanazi previously appeared before the commission and discussed his involvement in facilitating the registration of vehicles associated with Matlala.
According to reporting, he told the commission that Matlala had offered the vehicles as donations to the municipality. Mkhwanazi maintained that the vehicles were part of a proposed donation process and denied that there had been a plan to unlawfully use blue emergency lights.
The commission’s examination of the issue has nevertheless led investigators to scrutinise the circumstances surrounding the registration and modification of the vehicles.
Blue lights allegations centre on four vehicles
The blue lights allegations reportedly involve four luxury vehicles linked to Matlala’s security company, Cat Protection Services.
The vehicles reportedly include two BMWs, a Mercedes-Benz and a Volkswagen.
Investigators allege that the vehicles were irregularly registered as City of Ekurhuleni vehicles and fitted with blue emergency lights. Mkhwanazi is accused of unlawfully approving the fitting of the lights.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
Mkhwanazi has denied wrongdoing, while the evidence and competing versions will have to be tested through the criminal justice process.
Vusimuzi Cat Matlala also appears in court
The latest case also involves controversial businessman Vusimuzi Cat Matlala, whose links to the vehicles are central to the investigation.
Matlala has appeared alongside Mkhwanazi in the Germiston court proceedings.
The allegations concerning the vehicles have become part of a much wider scrutiny of Matlala’s business dealings and his relationships with government and police officials.
The businessman has featured prominently in evidence and testimony before the Madlanga Commission, where questions have been raised about interactions between private individuals and public officials.
Vehicles allegedly linked to Matlala’s security company
The vehicles at the centre of the latest investigation are reportedly associated with Cat Protection Services.
Investigators are examining whether the registration of the vehicles as municipal assets and subsequent fitting of emergency lights complied with applicable regulations.
The use of blue lights is tightly controlled because they are ordinarily associated with authorised emergency and law-enforcement vehicles.
Any unauthorised use can raise serious safety, identification and law-enforcement concerns.
Ekurhuleni Police Chief ambitions
Mkhwanazi says his latest legal troubles could affect his ambition to become the permanent Ekurhuleni Police Chief.
He told the Germiston court that he believes the repeated court cases are intended to interfere with his plans to apply for the position when it opens towards the end of the year.
The allegation adds a political and career dimension to an already complicated criminal-law situation.
Mkhwanazi argues that the cases could harm his reputation and reduce his chances of securing the senior policing position.
However, the State maintains that the legal proceedings concern specific allegations that must be addressed through the courts.
Mkhwanazi rejects wrongdoing claims
Throughout the latest proceedings, Mkhwanazi has rejected allegations of misconduct.
His position is that the State does not have a strong case against him.
His legal team has also suggested that the new arrest was not entirely unexpected because of information that emerged during the Madlanga Commission’s proceedings.
The defence is therefore challenging the allegations while preparing to deal with a growing number of criminal matters.
Blue lights saga returns to court
The latest arrest brings the blue lights saga back into the criminal courts after it became a prominent issue before the Madlanga Commission.
Earlier investigations by IPID and internal Ekurhuleni investigators reportedly recommended disciplinary action against Mkhwanazi.
According to court reporting, however, disciplinary proceedings were allegedly stopped, leading to separate criminal allegations against officials involved in the decision-making process.
That history has created a complicated chain of investigations, disciplinary proceedings and criminal cases.
Internal investigations preceded latest arrest
The IOL report on the latest arrest states that IPID and Ekurhuleni’s internal investigators had previously concluded that disciplinary proceedings should be instituted against Mkhwanazi.
The State alleges that the process was deliberately halted, which forms part of a separate case involving several municipal officials.
The latest warrant, however, concerns the separate allegation that blue emergency lights were unlawfully installed on vehicles associated with Matlala.
Mkhwanazi’s growing list of court cases
The sheer number of cases involving Mkhwanazi has made his legal situation increasingly complex.
He has been released on bail in several matters, while proceedings related to the Mbense murder allegations have continued.
The latest arrest means he now has to address another set of allegations while previous cases remain unresolved.
The accumulation of cases does not itself establish guilt.
Each allegation must be proved by the State through the appropriate legal process, and Mkhwanazi remains entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence in matters where he has not been convicted.
State faces burden of proof
For prosecutors, the challenge will be to establish the individual facts supporting each charge.
In the blue-lights matter, investigators will have to establish how the vehicles were registered, who authorised the changes and whether the fitting of emergency lights was unlawful.
Evidence obtained during investigations and testimony before the Madlanga Commission may become relevant, but allegations still have to be tested in criminal proceedings.
What happens next?
Mkhwanazi and Matlala are expected to continue appearing before the Germiston Magistrates’ Court as the latest case progresses.
The court will consider the charges and the evidence presented by the State and defence.
At the same time, Mkhwanazi’s bail proceedings in the separate Mbense case remain before the Brakpan Magistrates’ Court.
The multiple cases mean that his legal situation could continue to develop on several fronts simultaneously.
The latest proceedings will also be closely watched because of the wider questions raised by the Madlanga Commission about policing, municipal administration, private security companies and alleged relationships between public officials and politically connected individuals.
Why the fifth arrest matters
The claim that Mkhwanazi alleges ‘bigger plot’ against him in fifth arrest reflects the suspended police official’s own explanation for why he believes the latest legal action is being pursued.
His allegation of a broader plot, however, remains his claim and has not been established by a court.
The State’s position is that the criminal justice system is dealing with separate allegations arising from different investigations.
The latest blue-lights case is therefore another significant development, but its eventual outcome will depend on the evidence presented in court.
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Conclusion
The Julius Mkhwanazi arrest involving the alleged unlawful fitting of blue lights has added another major chapter to an already extensive series of criminal proceedings against the suspended Ekurhuleni police official.
Mkhwanazi denies wrongdoing and says he believes the cases could undermine his ambition to apply for the Ekurhuleni Police Chief position.
The Madlanga Commission has brought renewed attention to the relationship between Mkhwanazi and businessman Vusimuzi Cat Matlala, while the latest blue lights allegations focus on vehicles associated with Matlala’s security company.
Mkhwanazi has not been convicted in the matters described above.
As the case proceeds through the Germiston Magistrates’ Court, prosecutors will have to substantiate the allegations, while the defence will have an opportunity to challenge the State’s evidence.
For now, the fifth arrest represents another significant legal challenge for the suspended official, with his various court cases and the findings emerging from the Madlanga Commission continuing to attract national attention.
Mainstream media references
- eNCA — Mkhwanazi alleges ‘bigger plot’ against him in fifth arrest
Read the eNCA report - IOL — Fifth arrest: Julius Mkhwanazi arrested for blue lights saga while in custody
Read the IOL report - TimesLIVE — Mkhwanazi tells Madlanga Commission why he used Matlala’s security company
Read the TimesLIVE report - Sowetan — Mkhwanazi denies fitting blue lights to Matlala’s vehicles
Read the Sowetan report
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