Bail denied for Julius Mkhwanazi and five co-accused in Emmanuel Mbense murder case

The Brakpan Magistrate’s Court dismissed the bail applications of suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and five co-accused on 15 September 2026, ordering that they remain in custody pending further proceedings.

Magistrate cites lack of exceptional circumstances

Magistrate Colin Mashego delivered the judgment on Tuesday, finding that the group had not presented sufficient evidence to justify release on bail.

“The court is satisfied that neither applicant one, two, three, four, five, nor six has shown exceptional circumstances, and then the matter comes to a cul-de-sac,” the presiding officer ruled.

Who remains in custody

The six accused named in the proceedings are Julius Mkhwanazi; Cobus Janse van Rensburg, a security company owner; Adrian MacKenzie, a serving EMPD officer; Keisha-Leigh Stols, a former EMPD official; and former police officers Bhekokwakhe Sibande and Juan-Maré Eksteen. The court ordered that all six remain behind bars pending the continuation of the matter.

Charges and what the state says

The accused face charges connected to the death of Emmanuel Mbense in April 2022, including murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and defeating or obstructing the administration of justice. According to an Independent Police Investigative Directorate probe cited in court, Mbense was allegedly targeted after his truck was linked to a warehouse robbery in Brakpan on 9 March 2022.

The charge sheet states that more than 10 people, including South African Police Service members, EMPD officers and private security personnel, went to Mbense’s home on 14 April 2022. Mbense was allegedly found resting, his property was ransacked and he was interrogated about stolen copper reportedly worth R2 million. His body was allegedly later dumped at Spaarwater Dam in Duduza, Nigel, allegedly on Mkhwanazi’s instruction, and was discovered on 15 April 2022.

Evidence and witness safety concerns

Mashego said the state had presented a strong case, singling out testimony from senior Ipid investigator Nomsa Masuku. The magistrate noted that the suspects had placed themselves at the scene where Mbense was allegedly assaulted and tortured to death, and that the prosecution relied on two alleged accomplices who became state witnesses, including private security officer Etienne van der Walt.

The court heard that van der Walt had been threatened and went into hiding for a period. The magistrate also considered the killings of several suspects connected to the matter and allegations raised in court that tied some individuals to those deaths. Those circumstances, Mashego said, raised concerns about the potential safety of witnesses if the accused were released.

Next steps

The six accused will remain in custody as the case proceeds through the courts.