Julius Mkhwanazi asks for time after Witness K implicates him at Madlanga Commission

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department acting chief Julius Mkhwanazi asked the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday for more time to consult with his legal team before responding to allegations made against him by a witness known as Witness K.

Who said what

Witness K, identified in testimony as a JMPD inspector and described in source material as Mkhwanazi’s former girlfriend, gave evidence to the commission alleging she took part in an unlawful operation in Rosebank in 2023 that resulted in the theft of precious stones worth R14.9 million. The witness directly implicated Mkhwanazi in that operation.

Mkhwanazi’s response to the testimony

Mkhwanazi told the commission he had spent recent days preparing for his disciplinary hearing and had not yet had the opportunity to study the transcripts of Witness K’s testimony. He declined to respond immediately and indicated he may provide a written statement instead after consulting with his lawyers.

Wider inquiry

The Madlanga Commission is continuing its inquiry into allegations of misconduct and criminality involving law enforcement officials. The testimony from Witness K has been described in the source material as one of the commission’s most significant revelations to date and has intensified scrutiny on Mkhwanazi.

Next steps

The commission remains in session and the inquiry is underway.