Suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and 5 co-accused denied bail in Mbense murder case

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and his five co-accused have been denied bail in connection with the 2022 murder of businessman Emmanuel Mbense.

The six accused appeared before the Brakpan Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where the court ruled that none of them had demonstrated exceptional circumstances warranting their release on bail.

In delivering the ruling, the magistrate said the court was not satisfied that any of the six applicants had met the requirements for bail.

“Bail is refused for applicant number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6,” the court ruled.

Mkhwanazi faces charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating the administration of justice. The matter is being treated as a Schedule 6 offence, with the State opposing bail.

The charges relate to the murder of Mbense, who was killed at his home in Brakpan on 15 April 2022.

His body was discovered the following day at Duduza Dam in Nigel. His car keys and driver's licence were reportedly found in his pocket.

Mkhwanazi has previously been granted bail in other matters, including R30,000 in a Boksburg case involving allegations of impersonation and fraud, R50,000 in an earlier corruption case linked to blue-light vehicles, and R5,000 in a Johannesburg precious-stones robbery case.

However, the latest bail application relates specifically to the charges stemming from Mbense's murder.

The six accused will remain in custody.