JOHANNESBURG - At his final appearance at the Madlanga Commission, suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi has vehemently denied receiving monies from Mike van Wyk.
Mkhwanazi appeared before the Commission over three days after he failed to attend due to a bereavement. He had a rocky start as Commissioners tried to verify his relationship with the woman he claimed was his mother.
The matter was cleared after it was discovered that the woman, 10 years his senior, was, in fact, his stepmother.
Over the three days on the stand, Mkhwanazi denied the kidnapping allegation leveled against him and his team by EMPD spokesperson Kelebogile Thepa.
He also spent time focusing on his relationship with Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and Medica24 founder Van Wyk.
Speaking to eNCA, Van Wyk gave a different story. The founder of Medicare24 and Public Services claimed he had been in the medical services business for over 30 years.
His relationship with Matlala related to Medicare24 Tshwane District. They allegedly met at a carwash and bonded over their shared love of cars. Matlala showed interest in franchising Medicare24.
"It is very difficult, because when you are trying to stay out of the spotlight, as I have been working with authorities for over a year," he said.
But he had to go public with his side of the story as there had allegedly been threats to his life.
Van Wyk claimed his life has been in danger since he outed Matlala by leaking information on him over 40 months ago.
"We couldn't stand back as the medical industry to see small businesses being destroyed," he said.
Staff and many others have, according to Van Wyk, been afraid of Matlala.
"We knew the rumours," he said.
Mkhwanazi has previously told the Commission that he was introduced to Matlala by Van Wyk. He worked with Matlala to provide security for the City on covert operations that he alleged were above board and sanctioned.
He said that the City had worked with Matlala's company during a State of the City Address and that suspended EMPD Police Chief Jabulani Mapiyeye had approved this.
READ: “There was no physical agreement I signed” – Medicare24 CEO, Mike van Wyk
"Proper processes and procedures were followed," he said at the time.
Through Medicare24, he provided health services to EMPD as well as assisted in drug testing drives at schools, for example.
"Julius has been very involved with my clinic," said Van Wyk. He went on to say that he assisted Mkhwanazi personally as well, after he and his family contracted COVID.
"We became colleagues, I started to know him," he added. Van Wyk said they helped as far as they could and were needed.
This came in handy when Van Wyk needed a private escort for a friend; Mkhwanazi was eager to help.
Van Wyk asked Mkhwanazi to escort a friend and his entourage from OR Tambo International Airport to Sandton. The latter agreed.
"I did the introduction video to my client," says Van Wyk. The client and Mkhwanazi met; however, the escort did not happen.
Medicare24 was allowed to do work for the EMPD without any agreements in place. Mkhwanazi facilitated the process.
On Thursday, Mkhwanazi denied amending documents as per Van Wyk's request to make it seem that they had a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Medicare24 and another company.
Van Wyk said he met then Ekurhuleni Safety MMC Sizakele Masuku and EMPD Chief Isaac Mapiyeye for a proposal that he had.
They had told him they did not have vehicles and the man-power for the proposal that he had for a reserve force.
Matlala, Mkhwanazi and Van Wyk's relationship came under the spotlight when it was uncovered that blue lights had been installed in Matlala's private vehicles.
Although Mkhawanazi denied seeing to the blue lights installation, he conceded to the facilitation of the vehicle's registration to the municipality.
Five vehicles, four BMWs and a Mercedes-Benz V-Class were registered with the City. The car driven by Matlala's partner on social media was, according to Mkhwanazi, from 'forged' documentation.
READ: Mkhwanazi is not a facilitator. He's how he facilitated Matlala's EMPD donation
In Van Wyk's videos, Mkhwanazi can be seen being introduced to a man named 'George', whom he could help.
In another video, Van Wyk can be seen holding wads of money, asking Mkhwanazi how they should spend it. Mkhwanazi told the Madlanga Commission that he does not remember the context of the request.