Johannesburg – It has been more than four years since the body of crime accused Emmanuel Mbense was discovered at Spaarwater Dam by a passerby.
Today, Wednesday 5 August 2926, five suspects – including Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi – have been taken into custody in connection with the murder.
In recent times, Mkhwanazi has endured frequent arrests; it has become hard to remember the crimes he is accused of or the number of times he has been arrested and let out on bail.
In the latest arrest, the suspended EMPD deputy chief was arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) along with EMPD officer Adrian MacKenzie and former EMPD officer Kersha-Leigh Stols and two others.
Mkhwanazi, MacKenzie and Stols are out on R5 000 bail each for another matter in which they are accused of stealing precious stones worth nearly R15 million from an apartment in Killarney.
Before that, Mkhwanazi was released on R50 000 bail after being arrested for fraud and corruption for enabling blue lights to be fitted to vehicles belonging to CAT VIP Protection Services, a company owned by crime-accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
In another matter, Mkhwanazi was granted R30 000 bail after being charged with fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice in a matter in which he is accused of arranging an impersonator to appear in court instead of Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla.
Although IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping did not name the individuals arrested today, she confirmed that five suspects had taken into custody in connection with the April 2022 murder of Mbense, which was a subject of the Madlanga Commission.
“The five suspects, who are from EMPD, SAPS, and a private citizen, will appear before the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, 6 August 2026,” said Suping, adding that they face a charge of murder and defeating the ends of justice.
The arrested suspects allegedly played a role in Mbense’s murder, the dumping of his body at Spaarwater dam in Duduza, in Nigel, and failing to report a crime.
Matters turned deadly after Mbense was implicated in a business robbery in Boksburg North, hence the raid of his home by police on 14 April 2022.
“He disappeared on the same day of the raid, and his body was discovered on 15 April 2022 at Spaarwater Dam by a passerby,” Suping said.
“After concluding its investigation, IPID referred the finalised investigation report to the DPP in February 2026 for a decision.“
Suping said IPID also made recommendations to both the South African Police Service (SAPS) and EMPD to institute disciplinary proceedings against their members in terms of section 30 of the IPID Act 1 of 2011.
Section 30 of the IPID Act states that, within 30 days of receipt of the disciplinary recommendations from IPID, the employer must institute disciplinary proceedings against their officers and provide a progress report in writing to the Minister of Police and a copy to the Executive Director of IPID.
“SAPS provided a written report to IPID in April 2026 on the disciplinary sanctions imposed on their two members who held the rank of Sergeant,” said Suping.
“EMPD acknowledged the Recommendations Letter and is yet to provide IPID with a report on the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings against their members.”
