Referred to as: EMPD · Emergency Management Police Department · Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department · Metropolitan Police Department · Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department · Metro Police
None of Mr Matlala's companies were awarded contracts by EMPD; the only business concluded was for no financial gain, with CAT VIP Protection providing security services to former Mayor Tania Campbell.
“I place on record that none of my companies were ever awarded contracts by EMPD, and that the only business that was concluded was for no financial gain, in terms of which we threw one of my companies, CAT VIP Protection, provided security services to former Mayor Tania Campbell.”
Mr Matlala did not deal with paragraph 2.4 of the notice (relations with EMPD, blue lights, peace officer cards) because he is asserting privilege against self-incrimination as he is mentioned as a suspect, family member interviewed, and others are charged.
“Ja, there is a reason. I was supposed to also claim my privilege of self-incrimination because there are people who are already charged and I am also being mentioned as a suspect, and even my family member has been interviewed.”
WhatsApp chats included in evidence bundles involve communications between Mr Matlala and Mr Van Wyk, and separately between Mr Van Wyk and Mr Julius Mkhwanazi of the EMPD.
“The first is the chats extracted from Mr Matlala's phone, the chats between Mr Matlala and Mr Van Wyk... The second set of chats which run from page 59 in Volume 2 of the Evidence Bundle. Those are the chats between Mr Van Wyk and Mr Julius Mkhwanazi of the EMPD.”
Work is underway on a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Medicare 24/Anubis Protection Services and EMPD, signed by Mr Mkhwanazi, and a separate MOU for Mr Matlala's entities.
“there is now work underway on an MOU and, in fact, the draft MOU ... is already signed by Mr Mkhwanazi ... and there is a separate MOU ... for Mr Matlala's entities”
The MOU is between EMPD and Medicare 24/Anubis Protection Services, a security company associated with Mr Van Wyk.
“this MOU is drafted as an MOU between EMPD and Medicare 24, not Medicare 24 Tshwane ... Medicare 24/Anubis Protection Services ... was the security company associated with Mr Van Wyk”
The draft MOU includes provisions for EMPD to assist with vehicle registration and use of blue and red lights for vehicles as part of the EMPD fleet, with costs borne by Medicare 24/Anubis.
“EMPD will assist with the registration of vehicles under EMPD ... and we will be permitted to use blue and red lights ... The cost of this will be for Medicare 24 / Anubis”
This process attempts to position a private company to access blue lights and EMPD vehicles and to set up a specialised unit involving Mr Matlala's and Mr Van Wyk's entities that goes beyond healthcare.
“It is this process by which a private company is trying to put itself in a position to get blue lights and have access to vehicles which are part of the EMPD fleet ... an attempt to set up some sort of specialised unit into which Mr Matlala's entities and Mr van Wyk's entities will be able to participate which will go beyond healthcare”
Mr Mkhwanazi is preparing cards for members of the planned specialised unit with contact points for queries being himself as Director Mkhwanazi.
“Mr van Wyk sends ... a mock-up of a card that represents something of a joint venture between Anubis Protection and EMPD... Mr Mkhwanazi is preparing cards... the contact point ... is Director Mkhwanazi”
Mr van Wyk explains that some authority cards are used by metros but require a letter from EMPD authorising usage, indicating these private people work in association with EMPD.
“this is cards that I see some of the metros are using for people that has a little bit of authority, but we need a letter still to authorise us to use it. It does not make us traffic officers, it just says that we work in conjunction with EMPD”
Mr van Wyk seeks permission to put blue and red lights and EMPD branding on a new bakkie that he has bought, concerned about being arrested for impersonating a police officer.
“Would I be able to put blue and red lights in? It will only be ready on Friday. But I do not want to drive with something and then I get arrested for impersonating a police officer. ... Can we put EMPD at the back of the bakkie?”
Red lights can only be displayed on an emergency services vehicle, but blue lights need some police authority. Blue lights require the vehicle to be registered on the EMPD fleet, which justifies the blue lights.
“Now the red lights are neither here nor there because if it is for an emergency services vehicle, you are entitled to display red lights and Medicare 24 was a registered emergency care provider. But the blue lights you need some sort of police authority for. And he is saying to Mr Mkhwanazi, can I put blue lights on? ... we understand to be having the vehicle registered on the EMPD fleet, which in turn will then justify the blue lights.”
Mr Mkhwanazi confirms his team is dealing with the policy related to outsider vehicles having blue lights registered on EMPD fleet.
“Mr Mkhwanazi is saying my team has been instructed to deal with the policy and we understand that policy to be related to the issue of outsiders to the EMPD having their cars registered on the EMPD fleet and having blue lights.”
Mr van Wyk and Commissioner Mkhwanazi discussed establishing a reserve force for EMPD involving private individuals engaged in a similar capacity to police reservists in SAPS.
“Mr van Wyk and Commissioner Mkhwanazi are floating the idea of establishing a reserve force for the EMPD, which would then involve private individuals who are not EMPD employees being engaged by the EMPD in some sort of capacity, just like police reservists engage with the SAPS.”
Proposals linked to the establishment of the EMPD reserve force were documented in presentations and YouTube clips, but some of these links have been taken down recently.
“... there were a couple of presentations that were put together by Mr van Wyk and that appear in YouTube clips that are linked in the chats. Up until about four or five days ago, the links still worked, but they have been taken down now.”
The idea of establishing the EMPD reserve force grew out of the special force idea and was first indicated on 2 December 2021 in messages between Commissioner Mkhwanazi and Mr van Wyk.
“The first sign that we have of that as an idea growing out of the special force idea appears at that message on the 2nd of December 2021 at the foot of page 597 ... where Commissioner Mkhwanazi says: "Good morning Mike, we are starting with a project of reserve formation." And Mr van Wyk responds: "Please contact me so I know where we stand and hopefully I will be in charge of the reserves, LOL."”
Mr van Wyk sent a mock-up of the specialised services joint venture between Anubis and EMPD to Commissioner Mkhwanazi, who responded requesting preparation for appointment card finalisation due to increased cars.
“Mr van Wyk sends that mock-up of the specialised services JV between Anubis and EMPD through to Commissioner Mkhwanazi ... Commissioner Mkhwanazi sends him a message saying: "Good morning Mike. Kindly prepare, Cwabe will be coming to finalise the issue of appointment cards today... we will be meeting with our fleet guy this morning so we get directions since the cars have increased and finalised."”
There is a joint venture arrangement between Medicare 24, Anubis, and EMPD under the command of Acting Deputy Municipal Police Commissioner Brigadier JD Mkhwana to assist EMPD officers with security and medical emergency services including during the COVID-19 pandemic in and outside the City of Ekurhuleni.
“Commissioner Mkhwana sends Mr van Wyk a letter confirming the existence of some sort of joint venture arrangement between Medicare 24 and Anubis with EMPD ... The letter says : " This letter serves to confirm that the EMPD , under the command of Acting Deputy Municipal Police Commissioner Brigadier JD Mkhwana of Specialised Services , has an endless working relationship with Medicare 24 ( Pty ) Ltd and Anubis to assist EMPD officers in any security and medical emergency services including the COVID-19 pandemic in and out of the City of Ekurhuleni ."”
Mr van Wyk requested that the letter reflect the proper name Anubis Protection Services and include VIP protection and security services, not just medical services, as part of the partnership with EMPD.
“Mr van Wyk wants the proper name of Anubis to be there , and then he says : " VIP Protection and Security ." ... He wants the letter to say that we do not just provide medical services , the partnership extends to VIP protection and security services too .”
The contemplated plan involves collaboration between Mr Mkhwanazi and Mr Van Wyk to get tip-offs from EMPD about hijacked trucks so that Mr Van Wyk's entities can recover stolen cargo and receive a 10% reward shared between them.
“...what is being contemplated here is an arrangement in terms of which Mr Mkhwanazi and Mr Van Wyk will collaborate so that Mr Van Wyk gets tip-offs from EMPD about where hijacked trucks may be and then there will be a 10% reward for recovered stock, which presumably is going to be shared.”
Mr Van Wyk asks for a letter on EMPD letterhead to facilitate weapon licensing tied to his involvement in special operations with EMPD, to expedite firearm licenses for weapons already purchased.
“I need urgently a letter from you, please, on an EMPD letterhead. I bought more firearms for the company. Just state that we are involved with you guys, busy with JV, and that we assist you with special operations, so I can just get the other firearm licenses quickly with your motivation.”
There was an attempt by Mr Van Wyk and Commissioner Mkhwanazi to get the MEC for Safety and Security or Municipal Policing onboard with the idea of a specialised unit to work alongside EMPD, which never materialized.
“there was an attempt by Mr Van Wyk and Mr Mkhwanazi to get the MEC for Safety and Security or Municipal Policing ... on board with this idea of a specialised unit ... but that never materialised”
Commissioner Mkhwanazi explains that promotions of police ranks such as director, deputy director, chief superintendent, superintendent, and inspector within EMPD follow prescribed processes managed by Human Resources and sponsored by the Acting Chief of Police.
“The promotions of directors, deputy directors, chief superintendent, superintendent, and inspectors. We followed, as a department, we followed the processes and procedure. ... It is not our process, it is a process that is managed by HR ... As the Acting Chief of Police, I had to proceed with the processes where the Chief of Police started ... He was the Chairperson of directors. He is the one that invited me and HR in that process. I was part of the panel, but the Chief of Police, Isaac Mapiyeye, was the Chairperson of that process ... when he was suspended, I had to continue with those that were left. ... I had to continue, because the delegation of the letter, it is very clear ... you continue with your own responsibilities, but also you exercise your authority on what you are appointed.”
Commissioner Mkhwanazi states that the EMPD has conducted joint operations and can conduct operations independently of JMPD and SAPS, including entering homes and confiscating stolen goods, with authorization from memoranda of understanding.
“We have done that a million times, Commissioner... Yes, and JMPD have done that a million times in our site... Yes.”
Commissioner Mkhwanazi confirms the existence of a memorandum of understanding that authorizes EMPD operational actions, including joint operations with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for national operations and exhumations linked to apartheid era killings.
“We have got a memorandum of understanding...we are not just limited to, and some members are coming into be part of that team... there is a memorandum of agreement between the City and NPA.”
Commissioner Mkhwanazi provides details of various memoranda of understanding between EMPD and other municipalities including Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and City of Tshwane, outlining agreements for operational collaboration.
“It is an agreement, memorandum of understanding between Ekurhuleni Municipality and Johannesburg... The other is the same agreement between Ekurhuleni but with City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.”
Commissioner Mkhwanazi admits that the EMpd (Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department) was not following the prescribed newly registered law enforcement skills programmes of 2012.
“is it your evidence that, notwithstanding Annexures 16I and Roman II, the EMPD was not following this prescript?... We did not even start on it”
Commissioner Mkhwanazi requests verification whether EMPD is accredited to run all the courses and is unsure about accreditation for a particular course.
“I am requesting that we even check with RTMC... Do you know if EMPD is accredited?... it is accredited to run some of the courses, but on this one, I am not sure”
Despite MOU restrictions, EMPD still operates outside its jurisdiction on a daily basis.
“So then I must understand it is still happening today , not withstanding what this MOU prescribes , that it can only be for planned operations . Nonetheless , EMPD still operate outside its jurisdiction .”
Joint operation on 8 February involving EMPD and JMPD truck hijacking task team was conducted concerning suspects defrauding public with fake stones on social media.
“On the 8th of February, we had a joint operation with Province and JMPD, as we always do. We tasked members of truck hijacking task team unit or task team to join other teams as per request from Deputy Chief of the province to attend with them since it was affecting our area and Johannesburg and those members who were selling fake stones on social media platform, public members are being defrauded or members of public are being defrauded.”
COMMISSIONER MKHWANAZIDay 89 · 14 Apr 2026Refers to: 8 February 2023Location: Johannesburg
Deputy Chief Inspector Gerald Maseko from Gauteng Traffic deployed EMPD truck hijacking task team members for the operation in Johannesburg.
“We tasked members of truck hijacking task team to join the other teams as per the request of Deputy Chief Inspector Gerald Maseko, late who was working at province.”
COMMISSIONER MKHWANAZI personally deployed EMPD officers officer McKenzi and officer Kecia Stolls for the truck hijacking operation in Johannesburg in 2023.
“From EMPD, it was Officer McKenzi, Officer Kecia. I think it was the two of them... McKenzi would be Adrian McKenzi?... Yes, yes, yes. Yes, Chair. I think there were two on that day. Yes, in that operation... I deployed them telephonically, Chair... I am saying I was with him... Yes, yes, yes.”
Officer Stolls took over as team supervisor recording detailed daily activities and keeping operational records in books, in absence of official OB books at the time.
“Then Officer Stolls took over to become a team supervisor. She was recording each and every information of the team. All documents in detail. Sometimes I would check, can I check your things? I do surprise visits to different teams. Then I would find the book that she recorded all the things. The activities of the day, the activities of the week. You will find it in her books. As I have said that we did not have OB books, but she was recording each and everything.”
Commissioner Bolhuis was overloaded with two and a half posts when given additional human resource functions, but it was considered the best decision under the circumstances by the Chief of Police and top management.
“You are already inundated with two and a half posts or positions and just on the human resource element... Would you say this was the best decision to add this transition to your tasks?... I think it was the best decision under the circumstances... The Chief of Police looked at this and looked at her situation with her top management... and determined that I would be the best suited candidate to deal with this...”