Ekurhuleni fires deputy police chief Mkhwanazi amid criminal cases

The City of Ekurhuleni has fired its suspended deputy police chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, citing a disciplinary process, his multiple pending criminal cases, and the reputational risk to the municipality. The decision, announced on Friday, September 18, 2026, brings to an end Mkhwanazi's employment with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) while he remains in custody.

Mkhwanazi was suspended on November 11, 2025, following an internal audit investigation into allegations of misconduct. The City stated the suspension was an administrative measure to protect the integrity of the disciplinary process. The dismissal was announced after the City Manager received reports from the disciplinary committee and the human resources department.

"The decision was taken after the City Manager received the report from the disciplinary committee and a comprehensive report from the HR department, which really cited that because of the multiple pending cases and currently that he was denied bail and is in incarceration, the process of the disciplinary wouldn't be able to proceed and would be an unknown time frame," said Ekurhuleni Municipality Head of Communications, Phakamile...