Jaco Hanekom

Jaco Hanekom (killed 17 March 2023) was a South African whistleblower and police informant whose killing became the subject of national attention following testimony at the Madlanga Commission. His death was linked in commission evidence to allegations of corruption, unlawful operations, and intimidation involving members of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD). Hanekom was also mentioned at the Madlanga Commission by Marius van der Merwe also known as "Witness D" before his assassination in 2025. Van der Merwe testified to the commission about Mkhwanazi's and Matlala's involvement in the coverup, torture and murder of a robbery suspect, Emmanuel Mbense, a Mozambican national, in 2022. The suspect had apparently had a plastic bag put over his head to suffocate him until he confessed to the robbery.When the suspect died, van der Merwe testified that he was instructed by Mkhwanazi to dispose of the body and when the body was found later in a reservoir in Nigel, Jaco Hanekom told him that Julius Mkhwanazi would cover up the situation.

Whistleblowing In 2022, Hanekom obtained CCTV footage allegedly showing EMPD officers conducting an unauthorized operation at a workshop in Meyerton, outside the municipality's lawful policing area. The footage was said to depict the seizure of copper cable under the guise of a police operation. He also indicated that acting deputy EMPD chief, Julius Mkhwanazi was also at the scene.

The material provided by Hanekom was later submitted to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) for investigation.