Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi is among five suspects arrested in connection with the 2022 murder of Emmanuel Mbense, whose death has featured prominently in evidence before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) confirmed on Wednesday that it had arrested five suspects, including members of the EMPD, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and a private citizen. They are expected to appear in the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice.
IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping said the arrests followed the completion of a lengthy investigation into the killing.
“IPID today arrested five suspects implicated in the alleged murder of Emmanuel Mbense in April 2022. The suspects face charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice. They allegedly played a role in the murder of Emmanuel Mbense, the dumping of his body at Spaarwater Dam in Duduza, Nigel, and failing to report a crime,” Suping said.
According to IPID, Mbense had been implicated in a business robbery in Boksburg North, prompting a police raid at his home on 14 April 2022. He disappeared on the day of the raid, and his body was discovered by a passerby at Spaarwater Dam the following day.
The watchdog said it completed its investigation and referred the docket to the Director of Public Prosecutions in February 2026 for a decision on prosecution.
IPID also recommended disciplinary action against implicated SAPS and EMPD members in terms of Section 30 of the IPID Act.
The directorate said SAPS informed it in April this year that disciplinary sanctions had already been imposed on two sergeants. EMPD acknowledged receipt of IPID’s recommendations but has not yet provided feedback on the outcome of disciplinary proceedings against its members.
The murder became one of the most explosive issues before the Madlanga Commission after protected Witness D, later identified as former EMPD officer and security company owner Marius van der Merwe, testified that Mbense was assaulted, tortured and later disposed of after an operation involving law enforcement officials. Van der Merwe alleged that he was instructed to assist in disposing of Mbense’s body after the killing and linked senior officers, including Mkhwanazi, to the alleged cover-up. Mkhwanazi denied ordering Mbense’s killing or the dumping of his body when he later testified before the commission.
Just weeks after giving his evidence, Van der Merwe was shot dead outside his Brakpan home in December 2025 in what authorities described as a targeted killing. His death drew widespread condemnation and renewed concerns about the safety of witnesses cooperating with the commission. President Cyril Ramaphosa described his testimony as courageous, while rights groups warned that the killing could intimidate other whistleblowers.
Wednesday’s arrest marks the latest legal setback for Mkhwanazi, who has faced mounting criminal investigations since evidence emerged at the Madlanga Commission. In April this year, he was arrested by the SAPS Madlanga Commission Task Team on charges including fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice linked to alleged corruption within the EMPD.
He was arrested again in July in connection with the investigation into the alleged R14.9 million Killarney precious stones heist, with IPID identifying him as one of the suspects in that matter.
The latest arrests represent the first criminal prosecutions directly linked to Mbense’s death, one of the incidents that placed alleged criminality within the EMPD under intense public scrutiny during the commission’s hearings.
IPID said more details would emerge when the matter is heard in court.
The case is expected to attract significant public attention as prosecutors outline the allegations against the accused when they make their first appearance.
The matter remains a developing story.
