‘I Did Not Lie’: Suspended EMPD Boss Mkhwanazi Faces Commission Heat Over Mother’s Death Claim

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi denied misleading the Madlanga commission on Tuesday after evidence leaders questioned inconsistencies around the death of the woman he called his “mother”.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief, The Azanian

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PRETORIA – Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi denied misleading the Madlanga commission on Tuesday after evidence leaders questioned inconsistencies around the death of the woman he called his “mother”.

Testifying at the Brigitte Mabandla Judicial College in Pretoria on 14 April 2026, Mkhwanazi insisted he “did not lie” when requesting a postponement following the death of Petunia Mkhwanazi, who raised him from childhood. 

Advocate Mahlape Sello, leading evidence, told the commission that Mkhwanazi had previously described the deceased as his birth mother during consultations. However, documents submitted to the commission showed Petunia was born in 1965, while Mkhwanazi was born in 1975.

“Mr Mkhwanazi, during consultation, was at pains to convince us that the person who passed away was his birth mother. It was not a cousin, it was not a relative, and it was not a stepmother,” Sello said.

Confronted with the records, Mkhwanazi clarified that Petunia was his stepmother who married his father when he was in “grade one or two” and raised him “until her death”. 

“She raised me; she’s my mother,” Mkhwanazi told the commission. “There was no reason for me to lie or run away. Even if I delayed the commission, when it wanted, they were going to send summons to me.”

Further scrutiny came when the commission examined Mkhwanazi’s birth certificate from the Department of Home Affairs. It lists William and Maria Mkhwanazi – whom he initially described as his grandparents – as his parents.

Mkhwanazi said the document exposed painful family history. “You have raised family politics, I didn’t notice. You have touched something in my heart. I’m so sore now.”

He told the commission there was a court dispute during his childhood over parentage. “They went to court for us. I don’t know the politics. I was still young. There was another lady who claimed she’s our mother.”

Mkhwanazi said he grew up without a birth certificate and only obtained an ID in April 1994 with his grandmother’s help so he could vote in South Africa’s first democratic election. He maintained that William was his grandfather and Titus his father.

Sello said the line of questioning arose because the commission needed to determine if Mkhwanazi misrepresented facts to secure a postponement earlier this year.

Postponements were previously granted for a medical procedure and Petunia’s death. “After the postponement was granted, a few days later… we realised that this person happens to be 10 years older than Mr Mkhwanazi and that raised the issue about whether or not Mr Mkhwanazi lied to the commission,” Sello said. “So mine is to put to Mr Mkhwanazi that he lied to the commission to avoid appearing before the commission.”

The evidence leader warned that misleading the commission could amount to contempt. Mkhwanazi rejected the assertion and offered to provide a detailed affidavit on his family background.

“I feel uncomfortable because some things are new, and it’s opening a wound,” he said.

Mkhwanazi, dubbed the “blue lights blesser”, was suspended from the EMPD and first appeared before the Madlanga commission in late 2025. His testimony continues.

The Azanian will monitor the situation and provide updates as they develop.