The Julius Mkhwanazi arrest adds a murder case to the suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy chief’s legal troubles. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate, or IPID, arrested Mkhwanazi and four other people on Wednesday. The case concerns Emmanuel Mbense’s death in April 2022.
The five suspects face murder and defeating the ends of justice charges. They will appear in the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 6 August 2026.
Julius Mkhwanazi Arrest Leads To Court
IPID said the group includes people linked to the EMPD and the South African Police Service. A private citizen is also among the five suspects. The agency says they took part in Mbense’s killing, helped dump his body at Spaarwater Dam in Duduza, Nigel, or failed to report the crime.
“The suspects face a charge of murder and defeating the ends of justice,” IPID said in a statement quoted by News24. eNCA also reported that IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping confirmed the charges and court date.
The arrest reports did not name the four co-accused. Prosecutors must now place the details of the case before the court.
Fourth Arrest Follows Separate Cases
This latest Julius Mkhwanazi arrest is his fourth in 2026. IOL reported that police arrested him in April and twice in July. Courts granted him bail in those earlier cases.
The National Prosecuting Authority said the April case involves fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice. The state claims Mkhwanazi and Ekurhuleni municipal manager Kagiso Lerutla arranged for another person to appear in court as Lerutla after a speeding arrest.
In July, Mkhwanazi appeared in a separate blue-lights case. It concerns claims of fraud and corruption linked to lights fitted to vehicles tied to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Later that month, he faced another case over precious stones worth R14.9 million. Prosecutors say a group took the stones from a Killarney property during a fake police raid. Mkhwanazi has denied claims linked to that case.
Mkhwanazi Previously Denied Murder Link
Mkhwanazi also denied any role in Mbense’s death when he spoke at the Madlanga Commission. He said he went to a Brakpan property after a call but soon left. He told the inquiry that the matter was not an EMPD operation.
IPID finished its probe and sent the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions in February 2026. The new charges have not yet been tested in court.