Acting Ekurhuleni Metro Police Chief Julius Mkhwanazi has been drawn into a growing corruption scandal after CCTV footage reportedly showed him and a group of metro police officers at a workshop in Meyerton where copper cables were taken under the pretense of an official operation.
The footage was brought forward by informant Jaco Hanekom, who was murdered in a drive-by shooting on the same day the officers involved were granted bail.
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission, retired deputy chief Revo Spies said Hanekom had handed him the recordings that showed several EMPD officers, led by Mkhwanazi, entering the workshop and removing copper cables. Spies told the commission that the raid was not recorded in any official EMPD documents and that no lawful seizure took place.
According to Spies, the officers were arrested after the incident but were later released on bail. He described the operation as “theft, pure and simple.”
The commission was shown footage of two unmarked EMPD vehicles arriving at the site, along with a civilian identified only as Etienne, who appeared to assist the officers. Spies noted that civilians have no authority to participate in police operations and called the involvement “highly irregular and illegal.”
He added that some of the same officers later returned to seize the hard drive containing the footage, unaware that Hanekom had already made a backup copy. Spies then handed the material to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate for further investigation.
Spies also explained that EMPD officers have no legal mandate to inspect or confiscate copper or second-hand goods, responsibilities that fall under the South African Police Service. One of the officers implicated in the raid has since resigned.
The commission adjourned early on Monday, and Spies is expected to continue giving evidence on Tuesday.