Julius Mkhwanazi Granted R10,000 Bail in One Case but Remains Behind Bars for Emmanuel Mbense Murder
- Suspended Ekuhuleni Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi was granted R10,000 bail in the Germiston Magistrate's Court
- Commissioner Mkhwanazi has been arrested on five different occasions and has been granted bail in four of the matters
- South Africans weighed in on the latest court ruling, with many sharing amusement over his pending court cases
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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 — Julius Mkhwanazi has been granted R10,000 bail, but he will remain behind bars for now.
The Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief was granted bail by the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Monday, 14 September 2026, in connection with the "blue lights" case linked to Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala. He has been suspended since November 2025, and his suspension has cost Ekurhuleni approximately R1.27 million.
Despite the ruling, Mkhwanazi remains in custody because of a separate Schedule 6 case in Brakpan, where he faces charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and defeating the ends of justice. The state has strongly opposed his release in that matter, which relates to the murder of Emmanuel Mbense.
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A bail judgment in that matter is expected on Tuesday, 15 September 2026.
Bail granted in four out of Mkhwanazi's five cases
The blue lights matter relates to allegations that Mkhwanazi accepted approximately R70,000 in payments for unlawful vehicle registrations and the issuing of EMPD Peace Officer appointment cards to unauthorised individuals connected to Matlala's security company.
The Brakpan murder case centres on the April 2022 killing of businessman Emmanuel Mbense. Prosecutors allege that Mkhwanazi and five co-accused were involved in an attempt to recover approximately R5 million worth of stolen copper, and that they directed that Mbense's body be disposed of in a dam.
Across five separate criminal matters, Mkhwanazi has been granted bail four times. His other cases include a corruption and fraud charge involving alleged impersonation during a court appearance for Ekurhuleni Municipal Manager Kagiso Lerutla, for which he was granted R30,000 bail, and a case tied to a bogus police raid involving precious stones valued at roughly R14.9 million, for which bail was set at R5,000.
In July, he was granted R50,000 bail in an earlier iteration of the blue lights investigation.
How did South Africans react?
South Africans reacted to his repeated bail grants with a mix of sarcasm and frustration on social media.
Chillyboy Munzhelele commented:
"Record of the year. First man to get bail, but he's inside."
Sinazo Mabaso questioned:
"How many times must a criminal be given bail? Is it even allowed to be given so much bail? The South African judiciary system is trash."
Lucky D Gatsheni added:
"He is lucky when it comes to bail. Some people have been in custody for more than five years."
King Makhosonke Tshabalala joked:
"Just build the man a shelter next to the courtyard. He is out to get some Nandos and will be back soon."
Mkhwanazi claims there's a plot against him
Briefly News reported that Commissioner Mkhwanazi appeared before the Germiston Magistrate's Court.
Mkhwanazi was served with a J50 warrant of arrest linked to the alleged fitting of blue lights to Vusimuzi Matlala's vehicles.
The suspended EMPD Deputy Police Chief claimed that there were some people working against him.
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Source: Briefly News
