Suspended EMPD acting chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, has denied allegations that he had kidnapped people including Kelebogile Thepa, the EMPD spokesperson.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police acting chief, commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi said he would not kidnap anyone, especially women, because he supported their rights, freedom and development within the department.
Giving evidence on Tuesday at the Madlanga Commission, Mkhwanazi firmly denied allegations by EMPD spokesperson Kelebogile Thepa that he was behind her 2023 kidnapping in Tembisa.
He described the claims as false and damaging.
“I do not kidnap anyone, especially women. I support women’s rights and their growth,” he said. “These allegations against me are not true. This is a planned character assassination.”
Mkhwanazi also challenged Thepa’s testimony, including her emotional account before the commission.
“The tears that were presented here were not genuine,” he said.
He told the commission the accusations have affected his personal life, with his family, including his children, exposed to the claims on social media.
“This has taken a toll on me and my family. I am not a kidnapper. I deny all of this,” he said.
Thepa previously told the commission she was attacked by armed men in 2023, in what she believes was linked to her work as a spokesperson dealing with the so-called blue lights scandal.
She said the attackers demanded her phone and made threats linked directly to her job.
“He cocked a firearm and pointed it at me. What hurt me the most were the things that were said—they were work-related. They said I was a problem at work,” she testified.
According to her account, she was assaulted, pushed across the seats of her car, struck with a firearm and nearly driven away before being abandoned in Ivory Park after losing consciousness.
“It was clear they did not want the car or money. They wanted my phone and information,” she said.
Thepa linked the attack to her handling of media queries about documents allegedly showing that Mkhwanazi allowed vehicles linked to businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala to be registered as EMPD cars and fitted with blue lights.
Mkhwanazi denied this, saying he has no involvement in any wrongdoing and rejecting claims that a vehicle linked to the incident was registered in his name.
“I do not own such a vehicle. The records do not support that claim,” he said.
He added that it was unfair for him to be blamed for multiple allegations within a large police unit.
“It cannot always be me. EMPD is a big organisation,” he said.
He is expected to continue his testimony on Wednesday morning.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
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