Suspended EMPD head Julius Mkhwanazi concedes he was the only signature on Matlala agreements

Suspended acting EMPD Head, Julius Mkhwanazi, has conceded that he was the only person who signed off on two agreements with companies owned by Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

In 2021, Mkhwanazi signed off on two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Medicare24 and Cat VIP Protection. The MOUs would allow Medicare24 to use red lights as an emergency medical company and Cat VIP Protection to use blue lights.

Mkhwanazi stated he signed the agreements based on the premise of mutual benefit for both the EMPD and the companies, which would offer their services to the EMPD for free.

READ: 'He presented a forged plan': Ex-EMPD deputy chief accused of misleading Madlanga Commission

However, despite Mkhwanazi claiming that the MOUs required further sign-off to be effective, they were only ever signed by him.

Evidence Leader, Advocate Mahlape Sello, pressed Mkhwanazi for an answer on the lack of additional signatures.

Sello: “Besides you signing the document, no one else signed it?”

Mkhwanazi: “This one?”

Sello: “So effectively it was never approved?”

Mkhwanazi: “Yes, it was never approved.”