Acting Chief Julius Mkhwanazi is accused of turning the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department into a personal power base — allegedly giving notorious businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala blue-light privileges, registering his vehicles under the city, and fast-tracking 55 loyalists into top posts.

This happened without his boss’s knowledge.

Testifying before the Madlanga Commission on Thursday, the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Chief, Isaac Mapiyeye, detailed how Mkhwanazi made these moves without anyone knowing which most of them happened while he was on leave.

According to Mapiyeye, Mkhwanazi “brazenly disregarded my authority” and “ran the department as he pleased” with the backing of then–city manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi.

Between May and July 2024, Mkhwanazi allegedly made 55 senior appointments and promotions without consulting or informing his superiors.

“Brigadier Mkhwanazi, with the support of the city manager, has over the years brazenly disregarded my authority as Chief of Police,” Mapiyeye told the commission. “He continued, with her blessing, to make appointments even after I raised concerns.”

The posts, ranging from directors and deputy directors to chief superintendents and inspectors, were reportedly filled by individuals who often failed to meet advertised requirements, with several positions not even publicly advertised.

Most of those appointed, Mapiyeye claimed, came from divisions once led by Mkhwanazi himself.

Mapiyeye’s testimony detailed a systematic bypassing of protocol.

He said that while he was on leave or unavailable, Mkhwanazi, serving as acting chief, unilaterally drove recruitment and promotion processes, even appointing Mapiyeye himself to sit on panels he had never been briefed about.

When Mapiyeye returned to the office, he found that key personnel changes had already been made.

The chief further accused Mashazi of usurping his powers and colluding with Mkhwanazi and senior human resources officials to control EMPD appointments.

“My protestations were ignored,” he said, adding that written objections to the HR head went unanswered while the irregular interviews continued.

Mapiyeye also revealed tension over the extension of a deputy chief’s contract in late 2023, which he claims was pushed through without his knowledge.

He had already initiated a process to fill the post through proper channels, but found that Mkhwanazi was both a candidate and the acting decision-maker.

The hearing also revisited earlier allegations linking Mkhwanazi to criminal networks.

KZN Police Commissioner, Lt-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s testimony last month alleged that he registered vehicles belonging to Matlala under the municipality’s name, and fitted them with illegal blue lights — a privilege reserved strictly for law enforcement vehicles.

Mkhwanazi has since been placed on special leave, pending investigations.

Both he and the Ekurhuleni Municipality have denied any wrongdoing, insisting that all recruitment and partnership processes were lawful.

“Everything was done properly and fairly,” Mkhwanazi said, dismissing allegations as “misinformation.”

The municipality also defended its public-private partnerships with security companies, including Matlala’s, claiming these collaborations are part of the city’s crime-fighting strategy.

Mkhwanazi has since denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the KZN Mkhwanazi was misleading the public.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

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