Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and four others were arrested on Wednesday, 5 August 2026, in connection with the 2022 murder of Emmanuel Mbense. The group is scheduled to appear in the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 6 August 2026, to face charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice.
Investigation Into The Death Of Emmanuel Mbense
Emmanuel Mbense disappeared on 14 April 2022 following a police raid on his home linked to a business robbery in Boksburg North. According to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), his body was subsequently discovered by a passerby at the Spaarwater Dam on 15 April 2022.
“It is further alleged that Emmanuel Mbense was implicated in a business robbery in Boksburg North, hence the raid of his home by police on April 14, 2022,” stated the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
Legal Proceedings And Official Response
The arrested individuals include members of the EMPD and South African Police Service (SAPS), as well as private citizens, with former EMPD employee Kersha-Leigh Stols and suspended EMPD officer Adrian MacKenzie among those named as co-accused. This arrest follows a lengthy probe into the case, which reached a significant milestone in February 2026 when IPID referred the finalized investigation docket to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The Mbense case gained national prominence during the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which examined allegations of corruption and political interference within law enforcement. During the inquiry, witnesses alleged that Mkhwanazi, who is also facing separate charges related to fraud and the theft of precious stones, had personally ordered the disposal of the victim’s body.
The court appearance in the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court is expected to set the timeline for the formal trial proceedings.