Officers struggling with more than 700 cases: Ipid's Mgagula testifies at the Madlanga Commission

Thulani Mgagula, assistant director of investigations at the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Thursday that Ipid officials struggle with a crippling caseload, with some investigators handling over 700 cases each.

Magagula has been accused of trying to protect suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi from possible prosecution and disciplinary process emanating from allegations related to the installation of blue lights on a civilian's vehicles in 2013.

It was alleged that Mkhwanazi facilitated the donation of vehicles from alleged crime mastermind Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's VIP Security Services through an unauthorised memorandum of understanding he entered into with Matlala's company without the city's consent. 

The vehicles in question were registered in the municipality's name and fitted with blue lights.

The complaints against Magagula were raised by the then EMPD deputy chief Revo Spies and suspended EMPD chief Isaac Mapiyeye during their testimonies at the commission.

Magagula testified that as a supervisor of five investigators in Ekurhuleni he was forced to handle 727 cases as of December 2025, which was far above the national average of 266 cases per investigator.

He said: "This number is very high, which one can not cope with. The normal number is 290 cases... In a year we have 365 days and there are holidays, weekends, and sometimes I get sick. This demonstrates that I might give some cases a little attention," he said.

As far as he is concerned each Ipid official should ideally be expected to work on at least 100 cases to handle and not more than 200.

He told the commission that there was a meeting hosted on March 6, 2013 by EMPD and Ipid as referred to by both Spies and Mapiyeye during their testimonies.

"At this meeting chief Mapiyeye and deputy chief Mr Revo Spies reported that a social media article alleged the use of blue lights on a civilian vehicle, claiming that Brigadier Mkhwanazi authorised the installation," he said.

He said the pair was advised to lodge a formal complaint with Ipid regarding alleged misconduct of Mkhwanazi.

The metro police seniors also raised other issues of alleged misconduct in the metro police department, leading to former Ipid director Dikeledi Ntlatseng establishing a task team focusing on the EMPD cases.

Magagula said following a statement he received from Spies on the blue lights saga he went to register the case at Boksburg police station.

Magagula's testimony will resume on Friday.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za