Evidence leader Adv Mahlape Sello has told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi may have misled the commission about his mother’s death in order to avoid appearing last month.
Mkhwanazi’s testimony was postponed after he informed the commission that his mother had passed away. However, Sello presented evidence suggesting that the deceased was not his biological mother.
She told the commission that discrepancies emerged during the document collation process, revealing that the deceased was reportedly 10 years older than Mkhwanazi. This raised concerns about the accuracy of his claim and prompted further investigation.
Sello submitted that Mkhwanazi may have deliberately misrepresented the facts to secure a postponement and argued that he should be held in contempt of the commission.
“My submission is that you must be held in contempt for deliberately lying to the commission when you knew the facts you relied on were false,” she said, giving Mkhwanazi an opportunity to respond.
Commissioner Sesi Baloyi warned Mkhwanazi that misleading the commission could have serious consequences, including criminal sanctions.
Baloyi said the line of questioning, while uncomfortable, was necessary to determine whether Mkhwanazi had been truthful.
“If it is established that you were not truthful when you gave reasons for your absence, you would be in contempt of the commission, which carries criminal consequences,” she said.