Suspended EMPD deputy chief, commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi, says the recruitment process and promotion of senior officials were initiated by his boss, Chief of Police Isaac Mapiyeye.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL News
Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi has told the Madlanga Commission that his boss, suspended police chief, Isaac Mapiyeye, may have lied to the Commission about the recruitment and promotion of senior officials.
In 2025, Mapiyeye told the Commission that Mkhwanazi pushed through more than 55 senior appointments and promotions without his knowledge, consent, or involvement between May and July 2024.
He highlighted that numerous job positions were not publicly advertised, thereby bypassing standard recruitment and promotion protocols. He accused Mkhwanazi of often appointing individuals from his previous specialised unit, which he said sparked worries about favoritism and internal capture.
Mapiyeye even questioned the legitimacy of Mkhwanazi’s own appointment as deputy chief.
On Tuesday, Mkhwanazi told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that the recruitment process was initiated by Mapiyeye, and he only proceeded with the process after Mapiyeye’s suspension.
“On promotions…we followed all the correct procedures and processes as it was started by Chief Isaac Mapiyeye, from appointing directors, as he was the chairperson of the panel of Human Resources (HR) long list, shortlisting, interview panel and appointments,” Mkhwanazi said.
He added that as the Deputy Chief of Police for Operations and Specialised Services, he was also appointed to sit with Mapiyeye in the panel.
“I continued with processes as approved by the City since I was appointed as the Acting Chief of Police and HOD (Head of Department) of Community Safety. HOD HR has elaborated on the processes and procedures that all departments must follow when requesting to fill vacant positions within the City, since HR is the custodian and it’s their function,” he stated.
Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni, has since ordered a review of all 55 promotions effected by Mkhwanazi, along with a preliminary report into allegations that 275 officers were never properly vetted.
Mkhwanazi also accused EMPD’s training division, led by Mapiyeye, former EMPD deputy chief, and Revo Spies, of intentionally ignoring the implementation of a 2012 law enforcement skills program for metropolitan police departments.
He said the training division should have skilled, refreshed, and retrained metropolitan police officers and those who were recruited and promoted, as it was discussed and agreed with the representatives of the MPD’s Training Academies at the work session in 2012 at the SAPS Academy in Benoni.
He said the failure to train officers led some candidates to submit falsified documents.
Mkhwanazi also denied allegations made by Linda Gxasheka, Ekurhuleni’s Head of Human Resources, that a certain candidate was favoured.
Mkhwanazi came under scrutiny for alleging that his mother had died when he sought an extension from the Commission. It was revealed during the proceedings that it was his stepmother who had died. He explained to the Commission that he was raised by his grandmother and that his stepmother took over the role of raising him after marrying his father.
Mkhwanazi is expected to continue with his testimony on Wednesday.
gcwalisile.khanyile@inl.co.za