BRAKPAN, Thursday 27 August 2026 — Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi has been served with a fifth arrest warrant, this time over allegations that private vehicles linked to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala were irregularly registered as municipal vehicles and fitted with blue emergency lights.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate investigators served the warrant on Mkhwanazi at the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after proceedings in a separate murder case in which he is seeking bail.
Mkhwanazi is expected to appear in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges including fraud and corruption linked to the blue-light matter.
The allegations concern four luxury vehicles associated with Matlala’s Cat Protection Services.
Investigators allege that two BMWs, a Mercedes-Benz and a Volkswagen were improperly registered as City of Ekurhuleni vehicles and fitted with emergency blue lights despite being privately owned.
The alleged arrangement between Mkhwanazi and Matlala has previously been examined during evidence before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Mkhwanazi has denied that he personally fitted blue lights to Matlala’s vehicles.
The allegations have not yet been proven in criminal court, and the issuing of an arrest warrant does not amount to a finding of guilt.
The new case adds to a growing number of legal proceedings involving the suspended senior metro police official.
Mkhwanazi is currently among six accused in the murder case of Emmanuel Mbense, whose death has also featured in evidence before the Madlanga Commission.
He was arrested earlier this month in connection with the 2022 killing.
Mbense was allegedly assaulted and tortured at a property in Brakpan before his body was disposed of.
Those allegations remain before the criminal courts.
Mkhwanazi has also previously been arrested in connection with an alleged R14.9 million precious-stones robbery arising from what investigators describe as a bogus police operation in Johannesburg.
IPID alleges that metro police personnel were involved in taking the stones during the operation.
He additionally faces internal disciplinary proceedings within Ekurhuleni relating to allegations examined through the Madlanga Commission and other investigations.
The latest arrest warrant is politically and institutionally significant because Mkhwanazi previously occupied a senior position in the police service of one of South Africa’s largest metropolitan municipalities.
Ekurhuleni is preparing for a closely contested local government election on 4 November after several years of unstable coalition government.
While the criminal allegations against Mkhwanazi are separate from the election campaign, investigations into the metro police leadership and municipal administration form part of a wider debate over governance, accountability and law enforcement in the city.
The blue-light allegations have also become part of the broader scrutiny surrounding Matlala’s alleged relationships with law-enforcement officials.
Matlala has appeared before the Madlanga Commission and is involved in separate criminal proceedings.
The inquiry was established to investigate allegations of corruption, criminality and political interference within South Africa’s criminal justice system.
The new Germiston case means conduct previously examined largely through disciplinary proceedings and public-inquiry testimony will now also be tested through criminal proceedings.
Mkhwanazi and Matlala are expected to appear before the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Friday, when the charges and the state’s case concerning the four vehicles are expected to be formally placed before the court.
