South African talk radio spent mid-September 2026 tracking the dismissal of Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Julius Mkwanazi, fired after an internal disciplinary process found him guilty of irregularly issuing blue lights to alleged underworld figure Vusmusi 'Kat' Matlala. Presenters framed the sacking as the belated conclusion of a saga that had first surfaced three years earlier and was later ventilated at the Madlanga Commission into police corruption.
Stations converged on the same core facts — the internal hearing, the loss of pension benefits, and city spokesperson Pakamile Mbengashe's line that the move was needed to 'protect the image of the institution' — but diverged in tone. 702 and Cape Talk pressed hardest on why Mkwanazi had been promoted in the first place despite an earlier IPID recommendation, while SAfm and Power FM stuck closer to procedural updates from the courts.
The on-air consensus was that dismissal is only the start: Mkwanazi faces five criminal matters across multiple courts, including the Emmanuel Mbense murder, the Blue Lights fraud case, and allegations involving stolen precious stones.
A dismissal three years in the making
By the afternoon of 18 September, every major talk station in the Locl corpus was leading with the same headline: EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkwanazi had been fired. 702's Bali Jamini opened the 1pm bulletin with it 1, Cape Talk's Wesley Peterson picked it up an hour later 2, and Power FM and SAfm ran near-identical wording from city spokesperson Pakamile Mbengashe confirming the termination 'with immediate effect' 34. The framing across stations was that Ekurhuleni had 'finally concluded' a disciplinary process that had been running for three years 5.
The Blue Lights core of the case
Presenters returned repeatedly to the specific internal finding: that Mkwanazi had irregularly approved official blue lights for vehicles belonging to alleged crime kingpin Vusmusi 'Kat' Matlala 6. Cape Talk and 702 explained the mechanics — Matlala's private vehicles were allegedly registered as City of Ekurhuleni assets and fitted with emergency lights — with Ekurhuleni fleet manager Chris Stain named as a co-accused in the criminal Blue Lights Saga running in parallel at the Germiston Magistrates Court 78. In that matter Mkwanazi had been granted R10,000 bail days earlier 9.
A widening web of criminal cases
Talk radio was careful to distinguish the internal disciplinary outcome from the criminal cases still before the courts. 702's afternoon show noted Mkwanazi is facing 'five different criminal cases in five different courts' 10, including the 2022 murder of Brakpan businessman Emmanuel Mbense — a matter in which the Brakpan Magistrates Court denied him and five co-accused bail 11 — and separate allegations involving the theft of millions of rands worth of precious stones 12. Cape Talk added that he had also been implicated at the Madlanga Commission into police corruption 13.
The promotion question
The sharpest editorial line came from 702, where reporters revisited why Mkwanazi had been elevated to deputy chief at all. One correspondent traced the story back to early 2024, noting that Mkwanazi 'was promoted to be the chief of the EMPD despite an IPID report finding that he needed to be held accountable and taken to DC for his links with Vusmuzi Kat Matlala' 14. That question — how an officer already flagged by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate rose through the ranks — sat uncomfortably alongside the city's new insistence on 'ethical leadership' 15.
The city's damage-control message
Mbengashe's statement, replayed almost verbatim across 702, Cape Talk, Power FM and SAfm, framed the dismissal as protective of the EMPD's image and a signal of commitment to 'institutional stability and rebuilding public confidence' 1617. Cape Talk's Alpha Ramushwana emphasised that the city explicitly tied the sacking to restoring public trust in the metro police 18. Power FM anchored its coverage on the procedural timeline, noting Mkwanazi had been on suspension since 11 November 2025 19.
Broader Gauteng pattern
702 placed the Mkwanazi dismissal inside a wider frame of law-enforcement accountability failures across Gauteng, listing arrests, suspensions and dismissals in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni municipalities, and noting that Gauteng Hawks head Ebrahim Kadwa faces separate charges over alleged interference in the 2021 Ekurhuleni drug bust 20. The presenter positioned Mkwanazi as 'at the top of that list' — a shorthand talk radio has used to signal that the EMPD case is emblematic rather than isolated.
What's unresolved
On-air commentary made clear the story is far from over. 702 pointed out that dismissal costs Mkwanazi his pension benefits and leaves him funding legal defence across multiple courts 21. Cape Talk noted co-accused are still to appeal the bail denial in the Mbense murder matter 22, and SAfm reported the Germiston Blue Lights matter has been postponed, with co-accused Matlala and Stain absent from a recent appearance 23. Whether the criminal cases produce convictions — and whether the city is pressed to account for the promotion that preceded the dismissal — are the two threads talk radio is likely to keep pulling.
- 702
- Cape Talk
- Power FM
- SAfm
Citations
- 1.
“Julius Mkwanazi fired from Ekurhuleni EMPD top job and mudslides hit parts of Durban as heavy rain continues. Good afternoon, I'm Bali Jamini. The city of Ekurhuleni has finally concluded Mkwanazi's internal disciplinary.”
- 2.
“News: My apologies, Wesley Peterson. And we continue to talk about the changes at the Ekurhuleni Police Department. Yes, Amy, the city of Ekurhuleni says Julius Mukonazi's dismissal as its Metro Police Deputy Chief was necessary to protect the image of the institution. He has today been fired after an internal disciplinary found him guilty of approving official blue lights for vehicles belonging to alleged crime kingpin Vusmusi Katmatlala. Mukonaze has also had to answer to allegations.”
- 3.
“Matters for which he had been granted bail. Now, the city of Ekurhuleni spokesperson says the decision by city manager Kahiso Le Rutra follows a lengthy internal disciplinary process. The city of Ekurhuleni confirms that the employment of EMPD Deputy Chief of Police, Mr. Julius Mkanazi, has been terminated with immediate effect. The decision was taken by city manager Kahisole Rutra following careful consideration of the circumstances affecting the employment relationship. The city remains committed to ethical leadership.”
- 4.
“Murder in the Emmanuel Mbensametta, as well as fraud, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice charges for allegedly assisting a Gurulini city manager, Gahisolaruta, to secure an impersonator for a court case. City of Igurulini spokesperson Pakamil Mbengashe has confirmed the dismissal. The City of Iguruleni confirms that the employment of EMPD Deputy Chief of Police, Mr. Julius Mkanazi, has been terminated with immediate effect. The decision was taken by city manager Gahisola Ruta following careful consideration of the circumstances.”
- 5.
“Meanwhile, a memorial service will be held for Octavia Swartz in her community on Sunday. EMPD top cop Julas Mkonazi has been fired following a series of criminal charges. The city of Ekurhuleni has finally concluded Mkonazi's internal disciplinary hearing three years after allegations against him emerged. He was found guilty internally of irregularly giving blue lights to alleged underworld figure Vusmusiket Matlala. He's also had to answer to allegations that he helped dispose of the body of murdered.”
- 6.
“Says Julia Sumkanazi's dismissal from the EMPD was necessary to protect the image of the institution. Mukanazi was fired today following an internal disciplinary hearing into a series of criminal allegations against him. He was found guilty internally of irregularly giving blue lights to alleged underworld figure Vusmusikat Matlala. He also had to answer to allegations that he helped dispose of the body of murdered businessman Emmanuel Mbense. Al-Faramushana has more. Julia Mukanazi's problems seem to be”
- 7.
“MPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkwanazi has been granted 10,000 rand bail by the Jermistin Magistrates Court. Mkwanazi and Ekurhuleni Fleet Manager Chris Stain are accused alongside alleged underworld figure Vusumuzekat Matala in the so-called Blue Lights Saga case. The three faced fraud and corruption charges linked to an alleged arrangement that saw Matala's private vehicles registered as City of Ekurhuleni assets and fitted with blue emergency lights.”
- 8.
“As followed, were fair, competitive, transparent, and that no irregular expenditure was incurred. Suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkwanazi has been granted 10,000 grand bailing in the Blue Lights case. The matter against Mkwanazi and his co-accused has been postponed to next month by the Jamistin Magistrates Court in a Guruleni. However, his co-accused alleged crime Katal King Pinvusumuzi Ketmachana and a Guruleni fleet manager Chris Stain were not present in court. They are facing”
- 9.
“Not to jump to conclusions while investigators work to establish whether the cases are linked. Monkey Ziko. Eyewitness News, Kempton Park. Suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Jules Mkanazi has been granted 10,000 rand bail by the Jermiston Magistrates Court. Mkanazi and Ekurhuleni Fleet Manager Chris Stain are accused alongside alleged underworld figure Vusmusi Kat Matlala in the so-called Blue Light Saga. The three face fraud and corruption charges linked to an alleged arrangement.”
- 10.
“City of Ekurhuleni and the EMPD. Now that he's been dismissed on five internal disciplinary hearing charges, after three years of some of the allegations having been raised, he loses the pension benefits. And so it's really, really seems like it's only the beginning for Julius Mukwanazi, because for someone who is facing five different criminal cases and five different courts, you, I'm sure, would need all the money in the world to pay for the legal fees, to pay for lawyers.”
- 11.
“Call Eyewitness News reporting live in Guatemala. The Brockban Magistrates Court has denied bail for suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkwanazi and his five co-accused. The six-face murder-related charges over the 2022 killing of Ekurhuleni businessman Emmanuel Mbense. They are accused of being part of a group of EMPD, SAPS, and private security officers who allegedly conspired to rob and kill him. Mbenze was killed in 2022 with.”
- 12.
“Kat Matala access to the EMPD and its facilities. He's also facing other criminal allegations involving the murder and theft of millions of rands worth of precious stones. Eguruleni spokesperson Paramil Mbengashe says Mkwanazi's dismissal was in the best interest of both the city and the EMPD. The city remains committed to ethical leadership, institutional stability, and rebuilding public confidence in the EMPD. The criminal matters involving Mr. Konazi remain before the courts. Meanwhile, Mkwanazi is behind bars after.”
- 13.
“Once very proud, which was firm but yielding. Not anymore. It is half past four, time for the latest eyewitness news. And Wesley Peterson, corruption implicated law enforcement officer Julius Mkonazi, again applying for bail in one of several cases against him. Yes, John, in a case that links back to evidence at the Madlanga Commission into police corruption, the Brakpan Magistrates Court has heard Ekurhuleni suspended Metro Police Deputy Chief.”
- 14.
“Are any of them in internal disciplinary proceedings as well? Do you happen to know? Yes, I will take you back to 2023. I think we first reported on Julius Mkwanazi and the Kat Matala Blue Light Saga early 2024. And what we reported was that Julius Mkwanazi was promoted to be the chief of the EMPD despite an IPID report finding that he needed to be held accountable and taken to DC for his links with Vusmuzi Kat Matlala. Three years later, he's”
- 15.
“And defeating the ends of justice charges for allegedly assisting the Ekurhuleni city manager to secure an impersonator for a court case. City spokesperson Bakamilen Bengash. The City of Ekurhuleni confirms that the employment of EMPD Deputy Chief of Police, Mr. Julius Mkanazi, has been terminated with immediate effect. The decision was taken by City Manager Cahiso Laruta following careful consideration of the circumstances affecting the employment relationship. The city remains committed to ethical leadership, institutional stability.”
- 16.
“It needed to clear its image with Mkwanazi firing, and a Durban family survives a terrifying mudslide. Good afternoon, I'm Balil Lamini. The city of Ekurhuleni says Julius Mkwanazi's dismissal from the EMPD was necessary in order to protect the image of the institution. Mkwanazi was fired today following an internal disciplinary hearing into a series of criminal allegations against him.”
- 17.
“After allegations against him emerged, he was found guilty internally of irregularly giving blue lights to alleged underworld figure Vusmusi Kat Matlala. He's also had to answer to allegations that he helped dispose of the body of murdered businessman Emmanuel Mbense. He's also facing other criminal allegations involving murder and the theft of millions of rand's worth of precious stones. The city spokesperson Pakamilim Bengashe says Mkonazi's dismissal from the department was necessary to protect the image of the institution.”
- 18.
“The city of Ekurhuleni says his dismissal is aimed at restoring public trust in the EMPD. Al-Far Ramshwana, eyewitness news. In one of those cases, Mkonazi and co-accused are to appeal a bail denial in connection with the 2022 murder of Ekurhuleni businessman Emmanuel Mbenzi. Democatso Leshoro has details. Mkwanazi Keshali Stalls, Komuto Makubu, and Adrian McKenzie appears to be a very good marriage.”
- 19.
“Lines at this hour. The suspended Iguruleni Metro Police Deputy Chief Julia Smkwanazi has been fired. Mkwanazi had been on suspension since the 11th of November 2025. The city of Iguruleni spokesperson Pagami Lembengashe says the decision by City Manager Gahisule Rutla follows an internal disciplinary process. The City of Iguruleni confirms that the employment of EMPD Deputy Chief of Police, Mr. Julia Smkwanazi, has been terminated with immediate effect. The decision was taken by City Manager Gahisula.”
- 20.
“Alleged misconduct. There have also been multiple arrests, suspensions, and dismissals of officials across Gauteng, including in the Tsuane and Ekurhuleni municipalities. Suspended EMPD officer Julius Mkwanazi is at the top of that list, embroiled in five criminal cases. And the hawks have not escaped scrutiny. Gauteng Hawkshead Ebrahim Kadwa faces separate charges and is accused of interference in the 2021 Eriton drug bust. Similar accusations.”
- 21.
“At the center of it, it would be equally true. He's not on top. He is at the moment inside. That's definitely the case with the suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Commissioner Julius Mkwanazi. Suspended no longer applies because he has, we hear in reports, now been fired from the department. He's also facing a range of criminal charges, involvement in murder, corruption, misconduct, mismanagement.”
- 22.
“The city of Ekurhuleni says his dismissal is aimed at restoring public trust in the EMPD. Al-Far Ramshwana, eyewitness news. In one of those cases, Mkonazi and co-accused are to appeal a bail denial in connection with the 2022 murder of Ekurhuleni businessman Emmanuel Mbenzi. Democatso Leshoro has details. Mkwanazi Keshali Stalls, Komuto Makubu, and Adrian McKenzie appears to be a very good marriage.”
- 23.
“As followed, were fair, competitive, transparent, and that no irregular expenditure was incurred. Suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkwanazi has been granted 10,000 grand bailing in the Blue Lights case. The matter against Mkwanazi and his co-accused has been postponed to next month by the Jamistin Magistrates Court in a Guruleni. However, his co-accused alleged crime Katal King Pinvusumuzi Ketmachana and a Guruleni fleet manager Chris Stain were not present in court. They are facing”