Julius Mkhwanazi denies allegations he did favours for 'Cat' Matlala

Ekurhuleni Deputy Police Chief Julius Mkhwanazi spent most of his testimony before the police ad hoc committee denying allegations that he did favours for alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.

Mkhwanazi has also taken members of Parliament (MPs) through how he developed a friendship with Matlala, not too long after meeting him in 2022 to discuss possible business with the metro.

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Mkhwanazi was grilled by members of the committee on Thursday about his links to Matlala and his suspension from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD).

While Mkhwanazi has acknowledged receiving cash payments from Matlala, he remains adamant that he had nothing to do with providing him with blue lights.

He also denied that Matlala’s CAT VIP Security provided any services and received any money from the metro.

Mkhwanazi said this was part of all the propaganda to discredit him.

“I was called a blue light blesser and I said can you show me those blue lights, I never saw those blue lights. It was character assassination to deal with me, and it succeeded - it went everywhere.”

Mkhwanazi also explained his friendship with Matlala, saying it only developed after their security-related engagements.

“It was two years or a year after all these things. It was just as I said - we were communicating as brothers. In fact, we became friends by that time.”

Mkhwanazi’s appearance is expected to be followed by forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan next week, with Brown Mogotsi expected to take the stand in early February.