Madlanga Commission: Julius Mkhwanazi Allegedly Tampered With Dead Body at Crime Scene

• The latest witness at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry continued her testimony about the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department's deputy chief, Julius Mkhwanazi
• The Commission of Inquiry was established to investigate alleged corruption in the criminal justice system, and Mkhwanazi was implicated
• The witness testified how Mkhwanazi allegedly tampered with a crime scene and gave instructions about the body

With 10 years’ experience, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk, South Africa, provided insights into the criminal justice system, crime statistics, commissions of inquiry, and high-profile cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.

PRETORIA, GAUTENG — The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry's latest witness provided insight into Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi's alleged interference with police work. The witness testified on 14 November 2025.

Witness D appeared before the Commission of Inquiry at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College. The witness testified about Mkhwanazi and how he instructed members of the EMPD to dispose of a body.

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Madlanga Commission of Inquiry officials visit family of murdered witness, Marius Van Der Merwe

Witness testifies about Mkhwanazi

The witness said that he first met Mkhwanazi at a crime scene, and he did not know that he was the deputy chief. He said that he noticed members of the EMPD who wanted to plant a firearm on the scene. The witness said that he walked near the gate of the property when he saw that his car was parked in by two EMPD vehicles.

The witness said that when Mkhwanazi arrived at the scene, members of the EMPD had a meeting with Mkhwanazi. shortly afterwards, they returned and Mkhwanazi said the body needed to be discarded at a mineshaft or thrown into a dam. The witness explained that he was compelled to take the body in his vehicle. Two EMPD members escorted him and told him where to park it.

2 Briefly News stories about Mkhwanazi

Mkhwanazi was granted special leave on 25 September 2025 after a motion to suspend him failed at the Ekurhuleni City Council. The leave came after KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged that Mkhwanazi has ties to suspected cartel boss Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.

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Julius Mkhwanazi distances himself from Marius Van Der Merwe's murder, claims he did not know him

Mkhwanazi's boss, EMPD Chief Jabulani Mapiyeye, testified at the Commission of Inquiry. Mapiyeye said that Mkhwanazi sidelined him during the recruitment process. He demanded that Mkhwanazi and the human resource staff personnel include him in the process.

What did South Africans say?

Aouth Africans commenting on X discussed Mkhwanazi's alleged criminal deeds.

TagSel asked:

"Why is Chief Mkhwanazi still roaming free? He should actually be at Kgosi Mampuru, Modderbee, or Sun City."

Major asked:

"What's preventing the police from putting Julius behind bars?"

Manikivana said:

"Julius is not even charged."

Siyaya said:

"The wheels of justice seem to be motionless."

Whistleblower killed for exposing EMPD corruption

In a related article, Briefly News reported that Revo Spies, who testified before the Madlanga Commission, said that a whistleblower was killed for exposing corruption at the EMPD.

Spies said that police informant Jaco Hanekom was killed after he helped expose the corruption of several EMPD officers. He said spies exposed an unlawful operation by the EMPD in Meyerton, where they confiscated copper cables.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News