This is a gripping documentary exploring "South Africa's Most Dangerous Cop," Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi, and the shocking "Cover-Up That Took 4 Years to Expose." This breaking news investigation delves into a South African crime story that has captivated the nation, revealing deep-seated police corruption and a complex web of intrigue. Join John Brown of Daily Strange Stories as we uncover the truth behind the murder of businessman Emmanuel Mbense and the unsettling pattern of "Witnesses Die 1 by 1."
The heart of this South Africa latest news story lies in the tragic death of Emmanuel Mbense, a father of five from Brakpan. In March 2022, Mbense was allegedly taken from his home and subjected to severe mistreatment by a group that included national police officers, metro police officers, and private civilians. His body was later discovered in the Spaarwater Dam in Duduza, near Nigel. The state alleges that Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi, then a high-ranking Ekurhuleni Metro Police official, played a pivotal role in disposing of Mbense's body to conceal the crime.
What makes this case a significant breaking news on police accountability is Mkhwanazi's astonishing record. Before his August 2026 arrest for Mbense's murder, he had already been arrested three other times that year, facing a staggering 104 charges across multiple cases. These charges include the theft of precious stones worth nearly fifteen million rand from Peter Prinsloo's Killarney, Johannesburg apartment in a suspected fake police operation. Witness K, a female inspector from the Johannesburg Metro Police, provided crucial testimony about this heist, implicating Mkhwanazi and others like Adrian MacKenzie and Kersha-Leigh Stols. Mkhwanazi also faced scrutiny for allegedly authorizing blue emergency lights for vehicles belonging to businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, a figure linked to organized crime. The investigation also touched upon an alleged copper theft in Meyerton, exposed by informant Jaco Hanekom, who was later killed.
The most chilling aspect of this South African crime documentary is the "death oath" sworn by the individuals implicated in Mbense's murder. After disposing of Mbense's body, the group allegedly met at Calvinia and vowed absolute secrecy, with death as the consequence for betrayal. This oath has taken a grim turn, as four of the twelve implicated individuals are now deceased. Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D, a former police reservist who bravely testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, admitting his involvement and implicating Mkhwanazi, was ambushed and killed outside his Brakpan home in December 2025. Wiandre Pretorius, another individual implicated in the Mbense case and later a person of interest in Van der Merwe's death, also died under mysterious circumstances after reporting an attempt on his life. Matipandile Sotheni was charged with Van der Merwe's murder, with Pretorius identified as the getaway driver. Juan-Mare Eksteen, a serving police sergeant, was also present during Pretorius's suspicious death.
For over three years, Emmanuel Mbense's family, including his brother Nhlanhla Mbense, faced silence and unanswered questions from the authorities. Their desperate search for justice led them to AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit, headed by Advocate Gerrie Nel, after Witness D's testimony exposed the full horror of what happened. The Madlanga Commission, established by President Cyril Ramaphosa, proved instrumental in bringing this cover-up to light, revealing how the justice system itself appeared to shield the implicated parties. A man named Janse van Rensburg was also named as providing initial information leading to Mbense's apprehension.
This breaking news investigation highlights the immense human cost and the systemic failures that allowed a police deputy chief to operate with such impunity for so long. The question remains: who else in the system knew about this extensive cover-up and protected Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi? This documentary seeks to shed light on these critical questions, offering a detailed look into one of South Africa's most compelling and disturbing true crime narratives.
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