EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi testifies before the Madlanga commission at Brigitte Mabandla Judicial College in Pretoria on 4 December 2025. Picture: Gallo Images / Frennie Shivambu Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi has denied that payments he received from tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala were bribes linked to his alleged involvement in the blue lights saga. Mkhwanazi is accused of unlawfully enabling the installation of blue lights on vehicles owned by Matlala without the necessary authorisation.
Blue flashing lights and sirens are reserved exclusively for emergency and South African law-enforcement vehicles. Any person who fits or uses blue lights or sirens on a private vehicle is guilty of an offence. The allegations arise from a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that Mkhwanazi allegedlysignedon 13 October 2021 between the EMPD and Matlala’s company, Cat VIP Protection Services.
Although the agreement was later cancelled, the four vehicles were eventually registered under the City of Ekurhuleni. While testifying before the Madlanga commission in Pretoria on Thursday, Mkhwanazi was reluctant to concede that he had facilitated the registration of the four vehicles when questioned by commissioner Sandile Khumalo. The issue related to documents he handed to EMPD head of fleet Chris Steyn in January 2023 for the registration process. “I didn’t facilitate installing blue lights or branding those vehicles,” he told the commission.
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