'Punishment Was Death': Chilling Claims Emerge in Emmanuel Mbense Murder Case
- The Brakpan Magistrate's Court heard that the accused allegedly agreed anyone who spoke about Emmanuel Mbense's murder would be killed
- Suspended EMPD deputy chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi is among six accused facing Schedule 6 murder charges linked to a 2022 copper robbery
- The state alleged Mbense was tortured and robbed of R500,000 before his body was dumped in a dam near Nigel
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GAUTENG — The Brakpan Magistrate's Court has heard alarming claims that a group accused of killing Emmanuel Mbense entered a pact of silence after the alleged murder, with death agreed upon as the consequence for anyone who broke ranks.
The allegations surfaced on Thursday during the bail application of six accused, among them suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi. He faces charges alongside former EMPD officer Keisha-Leigh Stols, serving EMPD officer Adrian Mackenzie, SAPS officer Bhekokwakhe Sibande, and civilians Cobus Janse van Rensburg and Jaun Maree Eksteen.
The group has been charged with Schedule 6 murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating the ends of justice. Under Schedule 6 provisions, each accused bears the burden of demonstrating exceptional circumstances to qualify for bail.
The alleged events of April 2022
State prosecutor Nceba Ntelwa told the court that the case originates from a warehouse robbery in April 2022, during which large quantities of copper were allegedly stolen. Janse van Rensburg allegedly identified Mbense as the owner of one of the trucks involved and shared footage of the vehicle with others in the group.
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Ntelwa alleged that approximately 15 individuals, drawn from SAPS, the EMPD and private security companies, subsequently descended on Mbense's home in Brakpan. The group allegedly subjected him to assault and torture in an effort to extract information about the whereabouts of the stolen copper.
The state claims he then proposed disposing of the body in Spaarwater Dam near Nigel.
A vow of silence at Carnival City
Following the incident, members of the group allegedly gathered at Carnival City to coordinate their silence. It was at this meeting, Ntelwa told the court, that the fatal consequences for any member who disclosed information about the crime were agreed upon.
"There was a punishment agreed upon for anyone who would betray the group. That punishment was death," the prosecutor stated.
The case has drawn considerable public scrutiny after related allegations of a cover-up were aired before the Madlanga Commission. The bail application was adjourned and is set to continue as defence counsel mounts arguments for the accused's release in the face of the state's opposition.
3 Briefly News articles on the Emmanuel Mbense case
- The family of Emmanuel Mbense has thanked Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi following the arrest of five suspects connected to his murder.
- Ten firearms have been seized by police during a raid on one property belonging to a suspect in the murder of Emmanuel Mbense.
- Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi is among the suspects the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) recommended for prosecution in the murder of Emmanuel Mbense.
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Source: Briefly News
