Suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Denies Involvement in Witness Murder
Julius Mkhwanazi, the suspended deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD), has vehemently denied any involvement in the murder of Marius van der Merwe, a key witness who implicated him in alleged criminal activities before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. Van der Merwe, who testified under the pseudonym "Witness D," was fatally shot outside his residence in Brakpan on Friday night.
Mkhwanazi, on Sunday, stated he had "no comment" regarding Van der Merwe's death. He insisted he did not personally know the deceased and refuted any suggestion of his involvement in the crime. "I didn’t know this person. I’m only seeing him now because people are posting about his death," Mkhwanazi said. He further added, "I know nothing. I had no involvement. I only know him now because people are posting him and sending me things, saying I was involved. But it’s not my problem. I’m not running away or anything."
Van der Merwe's testimony at the Madlanga Commission last month was damning. He alleged that Mkhwanazi, along with other EMPD and police officers, as well as private security personnel, were involved in a cover-up following the death of a suspect who had been tortured after a warehouse robbery. Van der Merwe specifically testified that Mkhwanazi instructed him to dispose of the body. "Mkhwanazi said that we needed to throw the suspect’s body into a mineshaft or dump it into a dam. As he said this, he looked at me," Van der Merwe stated during his testimony. He claimed Mkhwanazi was called to assist and tasked him with dumping the body in a dam, where it was discovered a few days later.
Mkhwanazi maintains his innocence and asserts his focus remains on clearing his name before the Madlanga Commission. "I am not a criminal, and I was not born one," he declared, expressing his desire to concentrate on the commission's proceedings and prove his innocence.
Just a day before Van der Merwe's death, Mkhwanazi himself appeared before the commission, where he addressed the allegations against him. He claimed he was summoned to the scene in the early hours by Jaco Hanekom, a police informer who has since been murdered. Hanekom informed him of a "success" related to "stolen goods." Mkhwanazi described arriving at a scene with "cars, marked cars, security cars" and what was clearly a "big operation."
However, Mkhwanazi claimed that when he inquired about the stock at the scene, Hanekom "was not clear." He stated, "It was a discussion of three to five minutes, you see. I said: Okay, you are wasting my time." He further added that he had heard "stories of extortion" but insisted that Hanekom’s "information is accurate." According to Mkhwanazi, after another exchange in which he told Hanekom, "you are playing with me," he left the scene.
Mkhwanazi told News24 that he is currently reviewing the submissions made by other witnesses to formulate his response. He claimed that he was not given adequate time to respond to all the evidence presented against him when he initially appeared before the commission. "I was only given two to three days. Now I’ve got enough time to read and check everything properly," he stated.
He also expressed his feeling that the commission was unfair, saying, "Some of the things came as a surprise, and I have proof of many of them. I was caught by surprise. The Madlanga Commission is like a kangaroo court where you are expected to respond now, unlike the normal court where you have three months to respond."
Moving forward, Mkhwanazi has decided to consult with his legal team before addressing any further questions or allegations.
In the meantime, the investigation into Van der Merwe's murder is ongoing. Police have yet to make any arrests and have stated they are exploring all possible motives. This includes Van der Merwe's recent involvement in combating illegal mining, which has been suggested as a potential reason for his assassination. The Madlanga Commission has adjourned its proceedings until next year.
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