Ekurhuleni
1Min
South Africa
Nov 12, 2025
The City of Ekurhuleni will launch its EMPD Festive Season Campaign on Wednesday, a day after Deputy Head Julius Mkhwanazi was suspended over allegations of misconduct. The suspension follows damaging testimony at the Madlanga Commission linking him to criminal activities, casting a shadow over the city’s safety campaign launch.
The City of Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza will launch the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Festive Season Campaign and unveil the department’s new fleet of vehicles on Wednesday.
The event, to be held at the Harambe Bus and Truck Lanes at the corner of Zuurfontein and Orange River Roads, comes a day after the dramatic suspension of EMPD Deputy Head Julius Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi was suspended on Tuesday following recommendations from an internal audit investigation into allegations of misconduct. The City said the suspension is an administrative step aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the disciplinary process and does not amount to a finding of guilt. City Manager Kagiso Lerutla confirmed that formal disciplinary proceedings will now follow in accordance with labour laws and municipal regulations.
Lerutla said the move comes as the municipality closely monitors serious allegations raised at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Alleged Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, also known as the Madlanga Commission. He said the City takes these allegations seriously and is committed to ensuring accountability within all departments.
Mkhwanazi’s suspension follows a series of controversies that have placed him in the spotlight. His name was first publicly mentioned by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 6 July 2025, who accused him of fitting illegal blue lights in vehicles belonging to businessman Vusi “Cat” Matlala. Mkhwanazi denied the allegations at the time.
Earlier this week, the Madlanga Commission heard fresh evidence from a former EMPD officer who implicated Mkhwanazi in alleged criminal activities, including murder and defeating the ends of justice by allegedly tampering with a crime scene. The shocking testimony has fueled public concern and renewed calls for transparency and reform within the department.
The launch of the Festive Season Campaign is expected to go ahead as planned, with Xhakaza and Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Safety Sizakele Masuku in attendance. The City said the campaign demonstrates its commitment to strengthening community safety operations during the festive period through increased law enforcement visibility, crime prevention initiatives, and improved road safety measures across Ekurhuleni.
The new vehicle fleet, which will be unveiled at the launch, is intended to boost EMPD’s rapid response capabilities and ensure officers are well equipped to protect residents during the busy holiday season. Xhakaza is expected to address the suspension matter as part of his remarks at the event.
