Julius Mkhwanazi has been dismissed from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department after the City of Ekurhuleni completed a disciplinary process involving four internal charges.
The dismissal brings an end to Mkhwanazi’s employment as EMPD Deputy Chief, but it does not resolve the separate criminal cases against him. Those matters remain before the courts, where he is entitled to be presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Mkhwanazi’s removal follows months of arrests, court appearances, testimony before public enquiries and growing demands for accountability within Ekurhuleni’s policing structures. Here is what is known about the dismissal, the proceedings that preceded it and what could happen next.
Table of Contents
1. City of Ekurhuleni Confirms the Dismissal
The City of Ekurhuleni dismissed Julius Mkhwanazi on 18 September 2026 after finalising its internal disciplinary proceedings.
Mkhwanazi had served as EMPD Deputy Chief responsible for operations and specialised services. He also occupied several acting leadership positions within the city’s community-safety structures.
According to the city, terminating his employment was intended to address circumstances affecting the employment relationship and help restore public confidence in the metropolitan police department.
The municipality also made an important distinction: the dismissal was an employment decision, not a criminal conviction.
“The criminal charges against Mr Mkhwanazi remain matters for the courts, and he retains the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty,” the city said in a statement quoted by Eyewitness News.
This distinction matters because an employer’s disciplinary hearing and a criminal prosecution follow different processes and standards.
2. Four Internal Charges Led to the Decision
Mkhwanazi reportedly faced four internal charges that ultimately resulted in the termination of his contract.
One of the principal controversies concerned allegations that police blue lights were unlawfully issued for private vehicles connected to a company associated with businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
The vehicles were allegedly registered as municipal assets before later being deregistered while investigations were taking place. The matter raised questions about how privately owned vehicles could gain access to equipment and privileges normally reserved for authorised law-enforcement operations.
Further allegations linked to the theft of precious stones were reportedly added to the internal disciplinary process in July 2026.
The specific reasoning and complete findings of the disciplinary chairperson have not yet been published in detail. It is therefore safer to report that the four internal charges resulted in Mkhwanazi’s dismissal without assuming that every allegation reported in the media formed part of the final employment ruling.
3. Why the Disciplinary Process Took So Long
The disciplinary process did not begin recently. It reportedly dates back to a proposed hearing in 2023 connected to the blue-light controversy.
Mkhwanazi told Parliament that he was suspended in February 2023 over allegations involving the installation of blue lights and branding on vehicles belonging to a private security company. That suspension lasted approximately three months, after which he returned to work.
A later attempt to stop the disciplinary proceedings reached the Johannesburg Labour Court. A civil servants’ union argued that the municipality could not discipline him for alleged misconduct connected to an earlier employment contract.
In March 2026, the court rejected the urgent application. It found that the employment relationship had continued without interruption, meaning the City of Ekurhuleni retained the right to proceed with disciplinary action. eNCA reported on the Labour Court decision.
By the time the city concluded the process, approximately three years had passed since the hearing was initially expected to begin.
The lengthy delay attracted criticism from political parties and civil-society organisations, particularly because Mkhwanazi remained on full pay during his suspension.
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4. Mkhwanazi’s Suspension and Senior EMPD Roles
Mkhwanazi joined the EMPD in 2003 and progressed through several senior positions.
In testimony before Parliament, he identified himself as Deputy Chief of Police responsible for operations and specialised services. His responsibilities reportedly covered several operational divisions, including public-order policing, specialised units, traffic enforcement and crime prevention.
He also served in different acting positions, including:
- Acting Chief of Police: Mkhwanazi temporarily assumed responsibility for the wider policing function.
- Acting Head of Community Safety: This position included oversight of EMPD and other municipal safety services.
- Deputy Chief of Police: This was his substantive position when he was suspended.
His most recent suspension took effect on 11 November 2025 as the city considered allegations emerging from internal investigations and the Madlanga Commission. He remained suspended until his dismissal in September 2026.
The Parliamentary Monitoring Group’s record provides a detailed account of Mkhwanazi’s testimony about his EMPD career and acting appointments.
5. Criminal Cases Remain Separate From the Dismissal
Although the criminal proceedings contributed to the public attention surrounding Julius Mkhwanazi, they remain legally separate from the internal process that ended his employment.
He is reportedly facing several criminal matters, including allegations involving:
- The death of businessman Emmanuel Mbense: Mkhwanazi and five co-accused face charges that include murder, robbery and defeating the ends of justice. Mbense was allegedly killed in Brakpan before his body was disposed of near Nigel in April 2022.
- The alleged theft of precious stones: The State alleges that stones valued at approximately R14.9 million were taken during an operation in which participants allegedly misrepresented themselves as members of a law-enforcement team.
- Fraud and corruption allegations: Mkhwanazi and Ekurhuleni municipal manager Kagiso Lerutla previously appeared in court on charges of fraud, corruption and defeating or obstructing the ends of justice.
- The blue-light investigation: A separate warrant was served on Mkhwanazi in connection with allegations surrounding the registration and equipping of private vehicles.
The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that Mkhwanazi was arrested at his Gauteng home on 18 April 2026 in one of the corruption cases. The NPA statement provides details of that court appearance.
He is currently in custody after being denied bail in the Emmanuel Mbense matter, according to eNCA.
None of these allegations should be reported as established fact unless confirmed by a final court judgement.
6. How Mkhwanazi Previously Responded
Before his dismissal, Mkhwanazi repeatedly denied wrongdoing and defended his right to remain in his position while the cases continued.
Through his legal representatives, he maintained that he was innocent until proven guilty and expected to be exonerated. His lawyers also argued that calls for him to step aside were politically motivated and that resigning would reward those seeking his removal.
Mkhwanazi has denied allegations that he organised the precious-stones operation. He has also disputed other claims made against him during public testimony.
His earlier position focused primarily on the constitutional presumption of innocence. However, that principle applies specifically to the determination of criminal guilt and does not automatically prevent an employer from completing a lawful disciplinary process.
The dismissal may still be challenged through the appropriate labour-law mechanisms if Mkhwanazi and his representatives believe that the process or outcome was unfair. No such challenge had been confirmed when the dismissal was announced.
7. What the Dismissal Means for the EMPD
Mkhwanazi’s departure removes a senior official whose legal and disciplinary troubles had become closely associated with the EMPD’s public image.
The City of Ekurhuleni says the decision is part of an effort to restore trust. Achieving that objective, however, will require more than the removal of one official.
The municipality and EMPD may now face pressure to:
- Review internal controls: The city will need to examine how private vehicles could allegedly be registered or treated as municipal assets.
- Improve oversight of specialised units: Units with access to weapons, blue lights and operational authority require strong supervision and reliable records.
- Accelerate disciplinary cases: A process that takes several years can weaken public confidence and create substantial costs for taxpayers.
- Protect lawful investigations: Officials and witnesses must be able to report suspected misconduct without intimidation or interference.
- Communicate transparently: Publishing clear information about disciplinary outcomes can help residents understand how accountability is being enforced.
The dismissal of Julius Mkhwanazi is therefore important beyond the future of one senior officer. It represents a test of whether the City of Ekurhuleni can strengthen governance and rebuild confidence in its policing institutions.
For now, the employment matter has reached a decisive outcome, while the criminal proceedings continue through the courts. The fairest approach is to recognise both realities: Mkhwanazi has officially lost his EMPD position, but the allegations in his criminal cases must still be tested through evidence and due legal process.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Julius Mkhwanazi now?
As of 18 September 2026, Julius Mkhwanazi remains in custody after he and five co-accused were denied bail in the criminal case concerning the death of businessman Emmanuel Mbense. The correctional facility where he is being held has not been publicly confirmed in the reports reviewed. His continued detention does not amount to a conviction, and the charges must still be decided by a court. eNCA reported on his custody status.
How old is Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi?
Julius Mkhwanazi was described by the South African Police Service as a 50-year-old senior municipal official when he was arrested in April 2026. This would place his age at approximately 50 or 51 in September 2026.
What was Julius Mkhwanazi’s profession?
Julius Mkhwanazi was a senior municipal law-enforcement officer. He served as Deputy Chief of Police at the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, where he was responsible for operations and specialised services.
During his EMPD career, he also served in acting leadership roles, including Acting Chief of Police and Acting Head of Community Safety. The City of Ekurhuleni terminated his employment on 18 September 2026.
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