Allegations of Signature Forgery and Unlawful Partnerships
Ekurhuleni Metro Police (EMPD) acting chief, Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi, is facing serious allegations of forging the signatures of his superiors to benefit a reputed criminal kingpin, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. In return, Matlala allegedly provided the city with a helicopter that could only operate for two hours per month.
During testimony before the Madlanga Commission on Monday, retired deputy chief Revo Spies claimed that Mkhwanazi altered official documents to mask private deals with Matlala’s companies, Cat VIP Security and Medicare 24, under the pretense of public-private cooperation.
Spies alleged that these forged plans and accompanying memorandums of understanding (MOUs) allowed Matlala’s firms to assume policing powers, including responding to emergencies, registering private vehicles as EMPD assets, and even conducting medical procedures during operations.
“This memorandum purports to say a private company will act as police,” Spies said.
He became suspicious when he noticed the signatures on the documents, which seemed off. “It’s as if someone used an old document with the same signature,” he said.
Mkhwanazi is accused of forging the signatures of the chief and deputy. According to Spies, this was not acceptable, and he could not allow such actions to proceed.
Under the MOU signed by Mkhwanazi, Cat VIP offered the EMPD access to a helicopter, but with a significant limitation: a maximum of two flight hours per month. In exchange, the Metro allegedly agreed to recognize the company’s luxury vehicles — two BMWs, a Mercedes-Benz, and a Volkswagen Golf — as official EMPD cars.
Spies criticized the arrangement as legally indefensible and operationally useless, calling it a “childlike” attempt to formalize an unlawful relationship between the Metro and a criminally linked businessman.
A second MOU with Matlala’s healthcare subsidiary, Medicare 24, granted the company the power to draw blood at roadblocks and provide “legal advice” during drug busts, citing the CEO’s “health qualifications and legal degree” as justification.
Spies described the agreements as blurring the line between law enforcement and private enterprise to a dangerous degree. “It’s absurd. Two hours of flight time don’t help policing, and reporting crimes to a private company is unlawful. We report to SAPS and not to civilians,” he said.
The arrangements were seen as an infiltration of criminal influence into city policing structures.
Mkhwanazi has since taken special leave to allow investigations into the matter. However, he maintains that everything was done legally with the city.
SWAT Unit Accused of Criminal Activities
Meanwhile, on Friday, the suspended EMPD chief, Jabulani Mapiyeye, revealed that members of the SWAT unit, led by Mkhwanazi, are accused of murder, extortion, kidnapping, theft, and hijacking.
Mapiyeye stated that the SWAT unit operated more like a mafia outfit than a police team, with at least five criminal cases registered against three of its members.
This revelation further highlights the growing concerns about the integrity and conduct of certain units within the Ekurhuleni Metro Police.