The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has raised concerns over suspended EMPD chief, commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi’s, postponement request after inconsistencies emerged regarding his claim that his mother had died. Evidence leader, Advocate Mahlape Sello SC, told the inquiry that Home Affairs records suggest the deceased may instead have been his stepmother, not his biological mother.
The discrepancy prompted questions about whether misleading information had been provided to secure a postponement. Mkhwanazi denied any wrongdoing, insisting he did not lie and that the woman referred to was his mother in every practical and cultural sense. “I did not lie… she is my mother, she raised me… she is the wife of my father.”
Commission’s Response
The commission accepted his explanation, noting that he consistently maintained the deceased raised him and was the wife of his father. Co-commissioner Advocate Sandile Khumalo supported this interpretation, saying cultural definitions of motherhood may extend beyond biological ties. “In our culture… there is no such thing as step mother, those are English terms… In our culture, someone who raises us, they are our mother, full stop,” he said.
Commission chairperson, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, apologised for the surprise line of questioning and said key Home Affairs documents had only recently been received. He instructed Mkhwanazi to submit all relevant documentation to clarify the matter as the inquiry continues.
Key Findings
The commission said it would not at this stage pursue any adverse finding against Mkhwanazi on the question of dishonesty, effectively accepting his clarification pending further verification of records. The commission stressed that the inquiry remains focused on establishing the facts around the identity of the deceased and the accuracy of documentation submitted to the commission.
According to the South African Government website, the purpose of the commission is to investigate and make recommendations on matters of public interest. In this case, the commission is tasked with investigating the allegations against Mkhwanazi and determining the truth behind his claims.
Some of the key issues that the commission will be looking into include:
- The circumstances surrounding Mkhwanazi’s claim that his mother had died
- The accuracy of the documentation submitted to the commission
- The cultural definitions of motherhood and how they may impact the inquiry
Mkhwanazi is also linked to an allegedly irregular contract between the metro police and a security company, CAT VIP, owned by tender tycoon Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. The commission will likely investigate these allegations further as part of its inquiry.
