‘Chief, it’s that time again’: Mkhwanazi’s role in Emmanuel Mbense murder under scrutiny
'It does not look like he was surprised to be called for a dead man,' the state prosecutor remarked on Tuesday.
Chief Julius Mkhwanazi, deputy deputy head of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD), is facing scrutiny over a remark allegedly made during the events surrounding the murder of Emmanuel Mbense. Mkhwanazi, along with five other co-accused individuals, appeared before Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on 8 September 2026, as bail proceedings for charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and obstructing the administration of justice continued.
The accused are accused of brutally torturing and killing Mbense, who died from blunt force injuries in 2022. The motive behind the crime was the theft of copper worth R5 million, with 10% of that amount as potential payout. Mbense's body was allegedly dumped in the Spaarwater Dam after being interrogated about the stolen copper, allegedly at the instruction of Mkhwanazi.
State prosecutor Nceba Ntelwa highlighted Mkhwanazi's claim as "chief, it's that time again" as particularly significant, questioning its meaning and the accused's apparent familiarity with the death sentence for betrayal. The prosecutor also acknowledged the deaths and intimidation of those connected to the case, with four suspects dying or going into hiding, one of whom has now become a state witness.
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