Five big takeaways from Julius Mkhwanazi’s Madlanga Commission testimony

Mkhwanazi admits Matlala’s police clearance was fake as the Madlanga Commission probes his proposed EMPD peace officer role.

Image: Photographer: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers

Suspended EMPD acting chief commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi has conceded that alleged businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s police clearance certificate was fraudulent, while defending plans to place him in a peace officer programme.

Testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry this week, Mkhwanazi said Matlala was considered for a role aimed at assisting the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) with traffic management, school safety operations and public events — not frontline policing.

“The objective was to assist us with traffic lights and to also assist during hours when children are going to school,” Mkhwanazi told the commission.

He said the programme was designed to support the EMPD, which often faces shortages of manpower during busy periods such as weekends, funerals and major gatherings.

“Those volunteers were going to help us and not charge us anything,” he said.

However, evidence leader Adv. Mahlape Sello SC questioned how an individual accused of being linked to criminal activities could be considered for a programme involving official law enforcement powers.

Sello pointed out that peace officers derive authority from legislation and can exercise certain powers similar to EMPD officers.

Mkhwanazi agreed that peace officers hold recognised powers under the law.

The commission also focused on a police clearance certificate submitted in support of Matlala’s application.

Mkhwanazi confirmed that the certificate was fraudulent after evidence presented by SAPS showed that the document did not match legitimate police records.

“I can’t contest that,” Mkhwanazi told the commission.

The inquiry heard that the certificate contained incorrect transaction and inquiry numbers and had originally been issued to another person.

The document was provided by Medicare24 chief executive Mike van Wyk during efforts to include Matlala in the volunteer programme.

Mkhwanazi defended the importance of background checks, saying people with criminal records should not be placed in positions involving communities.

“You can’t allow a criminal to work with school kids, communities and to control traffic because they will take advantage of that,” he said.

However, he maintained that he was not responsible for personally verifying documents submitted by applicants and said paperwork was forwarded to relevant EMPD departments for processing.

The commission heard that Matlala had a criminal conviction dating back to 2001, when he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for housebreaking and theft.

During questioning, Mkhwanazi also pushed back against criticism directed at him during the inquiry, claiming media coverage had damaged his reputation.

“There’s an article about Julius Mkhwanazi every day. It’s character assassination. It is happening, and the commission is allowing it,” he said.

Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga rejected the claim, saying the commission had no control over media reporting.

The inquiry previously heard that Van Wyk introduced Mkhwanazi to Matlala in 2021, leading to an alleged working relationship involving companies linked to Matlala, including Medicare24 Tshwane District and CAT VIP Protection.

Evidence before the commission also revealed that vehicles linked to Matlala were registered under the City of Ekurhuleni and fitted with blue lights.

A memorandum of understanding was also drafted that could have extended similar arrangements to Medicare24 and Anubis Protection Services.

Mkhwanazi has since concluded his testimony before the commission.