Jabulani Isaac Mapiyeye
1Min
South Africa
Nov 7, 2025
EMPD Chief Jabulani Isaac Mapiyeye told the Madlanga Commission that three officers from the former SWAT unit face charges including murder, kidnapping and theft. He said one officer resigned during a disciplinary process, while two others who were dismissed have since returned to duty, raising serious accountability concerns.
Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Chief Jabulani Isaac Mapiyeye has told the Madlanga Commission that three officers face serious criminal charges including murder, kidnapping, theft and defeating the ends of justice.
Mapiyeye said the officers were part of a specialised team known as the SWAT unit, which was headed by acting metro police chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi
He told the commission that the three officers were implicated in several criminal cases, among them the kidnapping and extortion of a store manager in Benoni, as well as a murder case in Brakpan in 2022, where the victim’s body was later found dumped in the Nigel Maryvale Dam.
“These cases involve the criminal conduct of three members of the EMPD, all of whom were from a former team called SWAT, headed by Brigadier Mkhwanazi,” Mapiyeye said.
He said the allegations came to light during interactions with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) while probing what became known as the “Blue Light Saga” involving Cat Matlala. IPID reportedly revealed that several other cases involving EMPD officers were also under investigation.
Mapiyeye said he later learned that while one of the implicated officers resigned during disciplinary proceedings, two others who had been dismissed had since returned to the department.
Mapiyeye, told the commission that “the attempts to discipline Brigadier Mkwanazi led to him being targeted.”
“I was accused of being personal toward Julius,” Mapiyeye said.
Based on internal investigations conducted against Mkwanazi on charges of misconduct in 2023, Mapiyeye said “they decided to place Mkwanazi on suspension.”
He said he “approved the charges which will then be processed by labour relations,” and that he “wanted the establishment of a disciplinary tribunal.”
Mapiyeye said the issues of misconduct stemmed from “issues including the Blue Lights Saga, operational plans altered and due procedure not being followed bringing EMPD into disrepute.”
