Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and four co-accused will spend the weekend behind bars after the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court postponed their case to 13 August for a formal bail application.

The State has classified the matter as a Schedule 6 offence and is opposing bail for all five accused, who made their first court appearance on Thursday on charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice relating to the 2022 killing of Emmanuel Mbense.

Mkhwanazi appeared alongside former EMPD officer Keisha Leigh Stols, EMPD officer Adrian MacKenzie, former SAPS sergeant Bhekokwakhe Sibande and civilian Cobus Janse van Rensburg.

The five appeared calm in the dock as family members and supporters packed the courtroom during the brief proceedings.

They were arrested on Wednesday by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), which described the arrests as a major breakthrough in a case that remained unresolved for more than four years.

According to IPID, Mbense disappeared on 14 April 2022 after police raided his home in connection with a business robbery in Boksburg North. His body was discovered the following day by a passerby at Spaarwater Dam in Duduza, near Nigel.

Investigators allege the accused played a role in Mbense’s murder, the dumping of his body and the subsequent cover-up, including failing to report the crime.

IPID completed its investigation earlier this year and referred the docket to the Director of Public Prosecutions in February for a decision to prosecute. The watchdog also recommended disciplinary action against implicated SAPS and EMPD officials in terms of the IPID Act.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the prosecution informed the court it would oppose bail because of the seriousness of the charges and the Schedule 6 classification.

Counsel for Mkhwanazi challenged the classification, arguing his client was, at worst, an accessory after the fact and should not face Schedule 6 charges.

The State argued it would be inappropriate to proceed with the bail application while the defence’s request for further particulars was still under consideration.

Advocate Peter Wilkins, representing Mkhwanazi, questioned the State’s decision to oppose bail.

“We are perplexed because in previous Schedule 6 matters involving Mr Mkhwanazi the State did not oppose bail,” Wilkins told reporters outside court.

The arrest marks the fourth criminal case involving Mkhwanazi.

He is already out on bail in three separate matters. Those include charges relating to alleged fraud and corruption involving Ekurhuleni City Manager Kagiso Lerutla, a case linked to the alleged unlawful fitment of blue lights to vehicles associated with businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, and the alleged theft of precious stones worth R14.9 million from a Killarney property in Johannesburg. His combined bail in the first two matters amounts to R80,000.

The latest murder case also brings together some of the accused in the Killarney precious stones prosecution.

Mkhwanazi, MacKenzie and Stols have all been implicated in that matter. MacKenzie and Stols were previously granted bail of R5,000 each after allegedly implicating Mkhwanazi in the operation, while Mkhwanazi and his former girlfriend, whose identity has been protected in court proceedings as Witness K, were also granted bail after the State elected not to oppose their application.

Outside court, political pressure mounted on the suspended deputy chief.

ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Councillor Xolani Khumalo, called on City Manager Kagiso Lerutla to immediately terminate Mkhwanazi’s employment.

Khumalo said senior municipal officials were expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability, adding that no individual should be regarded as being above the institution.

He argued that failure to act would further erode public confidence in the municipality and undermine efforts to restore ethical governance.

IPID said more details surrounding Mbense’s death would emerge as the case progresses through the courts.

The matter was postponed to 13 August for the accused to bring formal bail applications. Until then, all five accused will remain in custody.