Suspended EMPD acting chief, commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi, has denied he tasked officers to go commit and armed robbery.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspaper
Suspended EMPD acting chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, has denied allegations that he orchestrated a criminal operation using officers under his command, telling a commission of inquiry that he never ordered anyone to commit an armed robbery involving precious stones.
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission on Thursday, Mkhwanazi dismissed claims that he instructed officers, including Keisha Leigh-Stols and Aiden McKenzie, to carry out the operation.
“I did not give any instruction to commit any robbery,” Mkhwanazi said, maintaining his innocence under sustained questioning.
But the commission painted a starkly different picture.
Co-commissioner Adv. Sandile Khumalo accused Mkhwanazi, along with McKenzie, of providing misleading information during the investigation — particularly about their presence at a property in Rosebank linked to the alleged crime.
Khumalo told Mkhwanazi that he failed to disclose that he had been at the scene until investigators obtained CCTV footage showing a white vehicle parked outside the premises.
“It was only after we confronted McKenzie with the footage that the presence of Mkhwanazi was confirmed,” Khumalo said.
Mkhwanazi is accused of leading a SWAT unit in the department that allegedly extorts, kidnap, hijack, murder and torture.
Pressed on the omission, Mkhwanazi initially conceded: “You’re correct, commissioner.”
However, he later contradicted himself, stating: “I was not there, commissioner,” before suggesting he may have “limited” the information he provided.
The inconsistency drew sharp criticism from the commission, which suggested a pattern of selective disclosure among Mkhwanazi, McKenzie and Leigh-Stols, raising concerns of coordinated efforts to shield one another.
Khumalo went further, directly questioning the legality of the operation.
“To me, it looks like you tasked them to go commit an armed robbery at somebody’s house,” he said.
The February 2023 case involving EMPD officers and a private security official operation, was linked to the alleged theft of precious stones and lithium valued at approximately R14.9 million.
Additional items reported missing include cigarettes worth about R150,000, R35,000 in cash, and medical supplies.
Evidence leader Advocate Mahlape Sello also, accused Mkhwanazi of fabricating a “joint operation” narrative years after the incident to legitimise the actions of the officers involved.
“The story comes three years after the raid, and no one was aware that it was a joint operation,” Sello said.
“In 2023, in an attempt to legitimise the efforts of Stols and McKenzie, Mkhwanazi concocted this version and invoked the name of a deceased who cannot defend himself.”
Mkhwanazi rejected this claim, insisting that other officers would support his account and that he had no involvement in criminal conduct.
“I’m not that type of person. Your concern is my concern. I am not defending anyone,” he said, adding that he also wants answers about the missing items.
The commission also heard that no formal criminal complaint appeared to authorise the raid.
As investigations continue, the inquiry is probing whether the incident was a rogue operation or part of a broader pattern of abuse of power within the EMPD.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
IOL Politics