On November 10, 2025, retired deputy chief Revo Spies testified before the Madlanga Commission, alleging that suspended acting chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi led a rogue unit in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department involved in theft, murder cover-ups, and unauthorized deals with criminal Vusimuzi Matlala.
Spies detailed fraudulent MOUs granting Matlala’s companies access to EMPD resources, a SWAT unit’s torture and killing of a civilian, a R45 million gem hijacking, and copper thefts shown on CCTV, with stalled IPID investigations and protection from city officials.
The testimony has prompted calls to disband the EMPD or place it under national oversight.
The #MadlangaCommission plays CCTV footage showing EMPD officers at a Meyerton workshop, where they allegedly stole copper cables.
The footage also shows Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi, accompanying the officers during the incident. pic.twitter.com/Jn58nhiN7q
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) November 10, 2025
When I said my fight is against the criminals who have hijacked the City of Ekurhuleni, this is exactly what I was talking about. 👇🏿 https://t.co/9NjY4b8LdX
— Xolani Khumalo (@XolaniKhumalo_) November 10, 2025