R600k reward allegedly paid to two Ekurhuleni officials for protecting EMPD’s Mkhwanazi

R600,000 increases were allegedly granted to two City of Ekurhuleni officials as a reward for ensuring suspended acting Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) head Julius Mkhwanazi was not subjected to disciplinary action.

The startling allegations were made by former head of employee relations at Ekurhuleni Xolani Nciza, who has been testifying before the Madlanga Commission.

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On Wednesday, Nciza revealed how Mkhwanazi was protected by the ex-Ekurhuleni city manager, Imogen Mashazi, after an investigation was launched into a deal struck between EMPD and tender tycoon Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala in 2021.

Nciza made serious allegationsof nepotism concerning Mashazi.

Nciza claims Advocate Kemi Behari, the city’s head of legal, and Linda Gxasheka, Ekurhuleni human resources head of department (HOD), received massive increases after refusing to take disciplinary action against Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi struck a deal between EMPD and two of Matlala’s companies in 2021, ultimately allowing Matlala’s private security vehicles to be registered as municipal vehicles for his personal use.

Nciza said disciplinary charges against Mkhwanazi were halted in June 2023.

“Two weeks down the line a report gets served that seeks to give advocate Kemi Behari and Linda Gxasheka a R600,000 increase.”

He alleges Mashazi rewarded the pair for protecting Mkhwanazi.

“You’ve aligned yourselves to what I want as the city manager, my person is not to be touched [Mkhwanazi] and you’ve ensured that my person is not be touched – here is an increase.”

Nciza said there was no justification given for the increases.

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