Former Acting Deputy Chief of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Julius Doctor Mkhwanazi, businessman Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala and Christ Steyn have appeared in the Germiston Magistrates’ Court over allegations involving the illegal use of municipal vehicles fitted with blue lights and sirens.
The trio face six counts of corruption, one count of fraud and one count of defeating the administration of justice.
Matlala also appeared in his representative capacity for three companies allegedly implicated in the matter, CAT VIP Protection (Pty) Ltd, Medicare 24 (Pty) Ltd and Black AK Trading (Pty) Ltd.
The case follows an investigation that began in February 2023 after the EMPD received a media enquiry about the alleged use of municipal vehicles by CAT VIP Protection, a private security company owned by Matlala.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), investigations allegedly revealed that Mkhwanazi, while acting as Deputy Chief of Police, drafted a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the EMPD and CAT VIP Protection without obtaining the necessary municipal approval.
The State alleges that Mkhwanazi and Steyn then caused several CAT VIP Protection vehicles to be registered on the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality fleet.
They allegedly did so without proper authorisation while falsely representing that a valid MOU existed between the municipality and the private security company.
Four of the vehicles were allegedly fitted with blue lights and sirens before being registered in the EMPD fleet.
The State further alleges that once internal investigations and an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) began, the accused facilitated the deregistration of the vehicles from the municipal fleet and their re-registration in the name of CAT VIP Protection.
Mkhwanazi is also accused of receiving payments totalling R70,000 from companies associated with Matlala.
The payments were allegedly linked to the unlawful registration of the vehicles and the issuing of EMPD Peace Officer appointment cards to Matlala and people associated with him, despite the required legal processes allegedly not being followed.
The State further alleges that the accused falsely represented that they had the authority to conclude a binding MOU with the municipality.
They are also accused of falsely representing that individuals associated with CAT VIP Protection were entitled to receive EMPD Peace Officer appointment cards and training.
According to the NPA, the reversal of the vehicle registrations while investigations were under way was allegedly intended to obstruct the investigations.
The arrests came after IPID announced on Thursday that it had arrested two suspects linked to what it called the “blue lights saga”.
IPID said one of the suspects was an EMPD official while the other was a private citizen. Both were facing fraud and corruption charges.
The police watchdog said a third suspect, also an EMPD official, was due to be arrested later that night.
The suspects appeared in court on Friday.
Mkhwanazi’s bail application was not finalised, with the court reserving judgment while taking into account his pending bail application in a separate case.
Matlala elected to postpone his bail application, while Steyn was granted bail of R10,000.
Mkhwanazi will return to court on September 14, when the court will monitor the outcome of his pending bail proceedings in the separate matter.
Matlala and Steyn are expected back in court on October 9 for further investigations.
Mkhwanazi also appeared separately on Friday in another corruption case involving former senior Ekurhuleni officials, including former municipal manager Dr Imogen Mashazi and others.
That matter was postponed to October 9 for the disclosure of the contents of the docket.
The NPA said it remained committed to accountability and transparency and would continue prosecuting cases where sufficient evidence exists against people accused of abusing positions of authority and public resources.
