Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and five co-accused have been denied bail by the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court in connection with the 2022 murder of businessman Emmanuel Mbense.
The court found that there were strong grounds to believe the accused could interfere with witnesses if released on bail.
In delivering the ruling, the magistrate said none of the six accused had demonstrated exceptional circumstances that would justify their release.
The accused will therefore remain in custody as the criminal case proceeds.
The allegations against Mkhwanazi and his co-accused have also featured prominently before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where testimony was heard about the circumstances surrounding Mbense’s death.
Marius van der Merwe, who testified before the commission as Witness D, alleged that Mbense was detained and interrogated by individuals linked to an EMPD operation in the Brakpan area in 2022.
Van der Merwe further alleged that Mbense was tortured during the interrogation and later died.
According to his testimony, Mkhwanazi allegedly instructed him to dispose of Mbense’s body after his death. The body was allegedly taken to a water reservoir or dam in the Nigel area.
Mkhwanazi has denied the allegations against him.
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