IPID Investigations Director warns of crime web within EMPD

By Johnathan Paoli

Acting national IPID Director of Investigations Thuso Keefelakae has claimed what he describes as a “serious trend” of criminality within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), with certain officials’ names appearing repeatedly in cases involving fraud, corruption, staged truck hijackings, drug routes, and violent crime.

Testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday, Keefelakae testified that he personally signed recommendations in September 2023 for suspended EMPD acting chief Julius Mkhwanazi to face disciplinary charges in the “blue lights” scandal, citing “overwhelming evidence”.

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“EMPD did not have the appetite to implement those recommendations,” he said.

He described longstanding “challenges with initiating disciplinary proceedings” against Mkhwanazi and said Ekurhuleni authorities showed little willingness to hold him accountable.

Keefelakae told the commission he was “disappointed and shocked” to discover a letter authored by Ekurhuleni