GERMISTON - Embattled suspended Ekurhuleni Police Chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, has denied any wrongdoing.
He told the Germiston Magistrate's Court that this is a ploy to interfere with his ambitions to apply for the Ekurhuleni Chief of Police position that is due to open at the end of the year.
He said these court cases against him will hinder his chances of getting the position. Mkhwanazi appeared at the court along with controversial businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala.
READ: WATCH | Blue lights saga brings more trouble for Mkhwanazi
He was served with a J50 warrant of arrest on Thursday. The warrant is in connection with the alleged fitting of blue lights to Matlala's vehicles.
According to Mkhwanazi's lawyer, the arrest was expected because of the revelations before the Madlanga Commission.
This is Mkhwanazi's fifth arrest. He was first arrested in April on charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
He was arrested with Ekurhuleni Municipal Manager Kagiso Lerutla after they allegedly paid a man to impersonate Lerutla in a speeding case.
Mkhwanazi was arrested again in July along with retired Ekurhuleni Municipal Manager Dr Imogen Mashazi, head of legal services Kemi Behari and suspended head of Human Resources Linda Gxasheka.
Shortly after being released on bail in the latter matter, he was rearrested for a R14.9 million precious stones theft matter in a Killarney flat in 2023.
READ: A brush with the law again: Mkhwanazi claims arrest politically motivated
At the beginning of August, he was arrested in connection with the 2022 Emmanuel Mbense murder. The Brakpan businessman was allegedly killed and dumped at Spaarwater Dam in Duduza, Nigel and failed to report a crime.
He is out on bail for the first three cases and is still in police custody, applying for the Mbense murder case. He is now fighting for his freedom in his latest case.
Appearing before the Commission, Mkhwanazi explained how he 'facilitated' the registration of Matlala's vehicles. He told the Commission that Matlala had offered the vehicles 'donations' to the municipality.
Mkhwanazi says the state has no strong case against him.