IPID only reacting to Mbense murder because of Madlanga Commission publicity: Commissioner Khumalo

IPID) Director of Investigation and Provincial Co-Ordinator Thuso Keefelakae testifies before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Director of Investigation and Provincial Co-Ordinator Thuso Keefelakae says the case docket regarding the murder of Emmanuel Mbense has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mbense was allegedly tortured and murdered in April 2022 and his body dumped in a Dam at Nigel, Ekurhuleni.

It has been alleged that Mbense was killed by police officers and suspended Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi was called to clean up the murder scene.

Commissioner Sandile Khumalo SC has put it to Keefelakae that IPID is only acting on the Mbense case because of the publicity it has received at the Madlanga Inquiry sitting in Pretoria.

“You criticised Ekurhuleni and EMPD for only acting when things come out in this commission. Looking at 34.5, the 4th of February 2026, now that looks like IPID did the same. After Witness D testified in this commission, then suddenly IPID refers to Ekurhuleni for disciplinary proceedings against these individuals.”

Keefelakae has testified that the City of Ekurhuleni did not have the desire to implement the recommendations made against Mkhwanazi.

IPID recommended that Mkhwanazi, the suspended deputy police chief be disciplined for the blue light matter, which involved Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

“Commissioners, I think I said that at some point a letter was written to the municipality because there was no initiation that took place. And then subsequent to that, myself and other colleagues, we took an initiative to drive to Ekurhuleni to meet with the mayor at the time and the MMC. And we raised concerns about the fact that there was no action that has been taken.”