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Suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Denies Role in Witness D Killing in Parliamentary Testimony

He acknowledged taking funds from Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, highlighting safety fears after his attorney was shot outside court.

Overview

  • Julius Mkhwanazi told MPs he had no involvement in Marius van der Merwe’s murder and said he did not know the man identified as Witness D.
  • He said his presence at a 2022 operation was to celebrate recovered stolen goods and denied instructing anyone to dispose of a body.
  • He admitted accepting money from Matlala without due diligence, calling it a mistake while insisting it did not buy influence or favors.
  • He rejected claims he enabled unlawful blue lights for Matlala through 2021 memorandums, though the matter went to Ipid and triggered suspensions.
  • Van der Merwe, a former EMPD officer who testified at the Madlanga Commission in November, was shot at his Brakpan home on 5 December, and the ad hoc committee plans to continue hearings on Tuesday.