SAPS officers linked to Mbhense murder face disciplinary action: IPID
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has welcomed the confirmation from the South African Police Service of the implementation of its recommendations.
Emmanuel Mbhense, who was implicated in a business robbery in Boksburg, was allegedly killed by members of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) on 22 April 2022, and his body was dumped at a dam in Germiston.
Details of Mbhense’s murder emerged during the testimony of slain Madlanga Commission witness Marius van Merwe, who implicated members of the SAPS, EMPD, and private security.
He alleged that the instruction to dispose of Mbhense’s body was given by EMPD Officers, including suspended deputy commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi.
In a statement published on Friday, IPID said that after concluding its investigation, it referred its finalised report to the director for public prosecutions in February 2026 for a decision.
The directorate said it also delivered the negative recommendations report to both SAPS and EMPD to institute disciplinary sanctions against their members.
“SAPS provided a written report to IPID dated 7 April 2026, to confirm the disciplinary sanctions imposed on their two members who hold the ranks of Constable. However, the two cannot be named as IPID is still awaiting a decision from the NPA for a prosecution,” said spokesperson Lizzy Suping.
Of the 12 suspects in this case, four were from the South African Police Services, three from EMPD, and five were private citizens.
READ: Police probing possible syndicate seeking to silence Madlanga witnesses
"Two (2) of the SAPS members were still in service, and the other two are deceased, hence the disciplinary regulations were against the two Constables," Suping explained.
According to IPID, EMPD had yet to provide a report on the outcome of the disciplinary recommendations against their members.
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