SAPS Task Team Arrests Suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi on Corruption Charges

Julius Mkhwanazi was arrested Saturday by the Madlanga Commission SAPS Task Team on charges of corruption, fraud, and defeating the ends of justice.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 5:38 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Eyewitness News

The Dawn Arrest of a Senior Official

In a significant development for the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed the arrest of Julius Mkhwanazi, the suspended deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department. The operation took place on Saturday morning at Mkhwanazi’s private residence in Gauteng. This arrest marks a critical phase in the specialized task team’s efforts to address high level misconduct within regional law enforcement agencies.

Scope of the Criminal Allegations

Mkhwanazi is currently facing a series of grave legal charges, including fraud, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice. These allegations stem from a deep seated investigation into the internal operations of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department. According to official police statements, the evidence against the suspended official was identified as prima facie wrongdoing within the interim report released by the Madlanga Commission.

Mandate of the Madlanga Commission Task Team

The SAPS Madlanga Commission Task Team was specifically established to act upon the findings of the ongoing inquiry into police misconduct. The team is tasked with investigating and apprehending individuals who have been implicated in systemic failures or criminal activities during testimony. Authorities noted that while Mkhwanazi is the most prominent figure arrested today, the team is actively searching for other suspects linked to the same corruption network.