Mashazi contradicts herself on IPID report at Madlanga Commission, faces scrutiny over EMPD inaction

The appearance of former Ekurhuleni city manager, Imogen Mashazi, before the Madlanga Commission raised eyebrows, as she displayed unusual behaviour, making faces and scrolling on her phone.

Mashazi has been testifying before the Inquiry with a strong focus on why she didn’t implement disciplinary action against suspended acting Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) head, Julius Mkhwanazi.

READ: Former Ekurhuleni City Manager Mashazi accuses EMPD head of sexual harassment, rape

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry played an interview Eyewitness News (EWN) conducted with Imogen Mashazi in February, where she explained why she didn’t implement disciplinary action against Julius Mkhwanazi.

The recommendations were presented to her in an Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) report that found Mkhwanazi should face disciplinary processes in respect of fraud and corruption after he unlawfully entered into two contracts with companies owned by tender tycoon, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

This is what she told EWN in February.

“The IPID report for us was very vague and I was unable to discipline anyone. I can’t subject my officers to a DC based on a report that I, myself, do not understand.”

But during her testimony on Monday, Mashazi was caught contradicting herself, first stating she perused the IPID report, before claiming she hadn’t in fact gone through it properly but relied on legal advice to advise her.

“I deal with a lot of issues, but maybe this one I did not pay too much attention to it.”

The commission was not satisfied with her stance on such a serious matter