DA Demands Ekurhuleni Finalise Julius Mkhwanazi’s Disciplinary Matter As He Remains on Full Pay

• The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for speedy action to be taken against Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi
• The suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department Deputy Chief has been on suspension since November 2025
• The DA's Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane explained why the party was not happy with the situation

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

GAUTENG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) is pressing the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality to urgently conclude its internal disciplinary process against Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi, the suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief, has been on suspension since November 2025 while continuing to draw a full salary.

As Mkhwanazi continues to face criminal charges, the DA’s Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane made the call for speedy disciplinary processes. She cited that local government regulations require senior management disciplinary proceedings to be finalised within three to five months. Mkhwanazi's process has now surpassed eight months with no resolution.

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"He is a huge embarrassment to Ekurhuleni, yet he is still currently getting paid. We believe he doesn't belong in public office; he must be held accountable," Rasilingwane said.

Mkhwanazi's mounting criminal charges

Mkhwanazi has been arrested four times in roughly 109 days in 2026 over a series of serious cases. His legal troubles include fraud, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice relating to an alleged 2019 scheme in which a third party was paid approximately R400,000 to impersonate Ekurhuleni municipal manager Kagiso Lerutla in court over a speeding ticket.

A second set of charges, arising from the so-called "blue lights" scandal, involves the alleged unlawful registration of private vehicles linked to businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala as City assets and the unauthorised installation of blue lights.

In July 2026, he was arrested on allegations tied to a 2023 bogus police raid on a Killarney property, during which precious stones valued at roughly R14.9 million were allegedly stolen. Most recently, on 5 August 2026, he was arrested on charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice relating to the 2022 killing of Brakpan businessman Emmanuel Mbense, whose body was allegedly dumped in a dam.

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Mkhwanazi discusses criminal charges against him

Briefly News reported that Julius Mkhwanazi shared his thoughts about the recent criminal charges against him.

Mkhwanazi faces multiple charges of fraud, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice, which he claims are part of a plot against him.

South Africans took to social media to weigh in on the suspended EMPD Chief's statement about his plans for the future.

Source: Briefly News