Madlanga Commission hears how Medicare24 CEO wanted blue lights on his bakkie

Evidence presented at the Madlanga Commission has revealed that businessman Mike van Wyk requested emergency blue lights from a senior Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officer for his personal bakkie.

Van Wyk is the CEO of Medicare24 and a known associate of alleged crime cartel boss, Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala. The request for the restricted equipment was directed at EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi, who is currently testifying in Pretoria.

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Mkhwanazi, who has earned the media nickname "Blue Lights Blesser," is under fire for his previous dealings with Matlala.

In 2022, Mkhwanazi facilitated an unlawful Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the EMPD and Matlala’s private security company.

The MOU allowed several of Matlala’s private vehicles to be:

Registered on the official EMPD asset register.

Fitted with blue lights, equipment strictly reserved for police and registered medical emergency vehicles.

During Thursday's proceedings, the commission played a voice note in which the Medicare24 CEO is heard requesting his own set of emergency lights from the Deputy Chief.

When questioned about the recording, Mkhwanazi admitted that while he remembers receiving the voice note, he could not recall whether he ultimately agreed to grant Van Wyk’s request.