Fifth arrest: Julius Mkhwanazi arrested for blue lights saga while in custody

Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi has been arrested for the fifth time.

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi has been arrested while in holding cells, this time over the alleged illegal installation of blue lights.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson Lizzy Suping said two of the three suspects were arrested on Wednesday.

"The two suspects, an EMPD official and a private citizen face charges of fraud and corruption," she said.

Suping said the third suspect, who is also an EMPD official, will be arrested later tonight.

"More information on this matter will be ventilated in court," she added.

The suspects will make their first appearance at the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Mkhwanazi has already been arrested and released on bail for numerous matters. Recently, he was in custody for the alleged 2022 murder of Emmanuel Mbense in Brakpan.

He also appeared in court for fraud and corruption alongside the f ormer municipal manager Imogen Mashazi, former human resources executive Linda Gxasheka and the city's head of legal services.

The charges relate to an alleged plan to stop disciplinary proceedings against Mkhwanazi after both internal investigators and IPID recommended that he face action over the controversial blue light saga .

Both IPID and Ekurhuleni's internal investigators concluded that disciplinary proceedings should be instituted.

Instead, the state alleged, the process was deliberately brought to a halt.

Court papers claim Mashazi instructed Gxasheka and Behari to withdraw the disciplinary proceedings, effectively shielding Mkhwanazi from accountability.