By Johnathan Paoli
Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and controversial businessman and corruption and attempted murder accused Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala will remain in custody, while Ekurhuleni Fleet Manager Chris Steyn was granted bail.
Magistrate Trevor Classen of the Germiston Magistrate’s court granted Steyn R10,000 bail while Mkhwanazi and Matlala remain in custody, partly due to being involved in other cases.
“The court is satisfied that it is in the interest of justice to permit the release of the accused person on bail. His application for bail is granted,” Classen said.
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Steyn appeared alongside Matlala and Mkhwanazi, who were served with warrants of arrest on Thursday while they were already in court on other matters.
The three accused face multiple charges, including corruption, fraud and defeating the ends of justice, arising from allegations that blue lights were fitted to Matlala’s luxury vehicles and vehicles belonging to his companies, Medicare24 and Cat VIP.
Classen said the court had considered the provisions of Section 60 of the Criminal Procedure Act, submissions by the State and defence, as well as evidence placed before it.
“The court considered the provisions of section 60, specifically section 60, subsection 482 E, as well as subsections 5 to 9, furthermore, the court considered the submissions by the State as well as the evidence standard, as Exhibit B, and the further submissions on behalf of the State and the defence,” he said.
For Steyn, the magistrate concluded that his release was in the interests of justice.
Mkhwanazi’s application was a different matter.
Classen said there were outstanding issues that required further consideration before he could deliver his ruling.
He acknowledged that an accused person has a right to have a bail application finalised promptly, but said Mkhwanazi would not be prejudiced by the delay.
“I’m going to reserve a ruling in respect of accused number one, there are certain aspects of this matter that needs further consideration,” Classen said.
He referred to the 2003 Supreme Court of Appeal judgment, which recognised the urgency of bail proceedings and an accused’s procedural right to a prompt decision.
But Classen said Mkhwanazi was already in custody in connection with separate matters and would therefore not suffer prejudice from the reserved judgment.
“I am further of the view that the accused person, number one, will not suffer prejudice at this juncture, seeing that he in any event is in custody for the pending matter,” he said.
Mkhwanazi’s bail application has therefore been postponed to 14 September.
He will remain in custody at Benoni police station.
The matter involving Matlala and Steyn was postponed to 9 October, with Steyn ordered to appear at 8.30am at the Germiston Magistrates’ Court.
“Accused number one, remanded in custody, will be kept at the Benoni Police Station. Accused number two in custody. Accused number three, bail is granted in the amount of R10,000,” Classen said.
The “blue lights” scandal centres on allegations that private vehicles linked to Matlala and his companies were irregularly registered as City of Ekurhuleni municipal vehicles and fitted with blue lights, effectively giving private vehicles the appearance of official law-enforcement status.
The allegations emerged from evidence before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where it was alleged that Mkhwanazi facilitated memoranda of understanding involving Matlala’s Cat VIP and Medicare24, despite questions over his authority to enter into such agreements.
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Evidence before the commission has included WhatsApp exchanges and allegations of payments involving Mkhwanazi, Matlala and Medicare24 chief executive Mike van Wyk.
Mkhwanazi has denied wrongdoing, insisting he did not install the blue lights, brand the vehicles or authorise their registration as municipal assets.
All three accused remain before the court and the allegations against them have not been tested in a criminal trial.
