Julius Mkhwanazi granted bail in blue lights case, remains in custody on murder charge
Suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi has been granted R10,000 bail in the alleged blue-light corruption case but remains in custody pending judgment in a separate murder-related bail application.
Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and five other accused in the Emmanuel Mbense murder case have been denied bail by the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court. Mkhwanazi, Cobus Janse van Rensburg, Adrian MacKenzie, Keisha-Leigh Stols, Bhekokwakhe Sibande, and Juan-Maré Eksteen will remain in custody until further proceedings in the case.
Magistrate Colin Mashego ruled on Tuesday, 15 September 2026 that the accused failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify their release on bail. The six are charged with murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and obstructing or defeating the administration of justice. According to an Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) probe, Mbense was tortured before suffering fatal blunt force injuries.
The group allegedly targeted Mbense after his truck was linked to a warehouse robbery. He was allegedly killed on Mkhwanazi's orders at Spaarwater Dam in Duduza, Nigel, before his body was discovered on 15 April 2022. Four suspects related to the case have died.
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