Commissioner challenges decision not to extend senior official’s suspension

Commissioners at the Madlanga Inquiry are not convinced by testimony from Ekurhuleni Metro’s suspended legal head, Kemi Behari, who failed to support the extended suspension of a senior official.

In February 2023, EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi was suspended for allegedly fitting blue lights to a fleet of cars belonging to crime boss Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.

However, when his suspension expired, Behari refused to support an extension.

Ekurhuleni Municipality’s suspended Head of Legal, Kemi Behari, says he was approached by an investigating officer for legal guidance regarding the suspension of EMPD’s Deputy Chief, Julius Mkhwanazi.

Behari says he found evidentiary gaps in the investigation.

Behari says he felt there were more witnesses who needed to be questioned, including News24’s investigative journalist, Jeff Wicks, who exposed the blue light scandal.

However, Chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga says he doesn’t understand why he would need a statement from a journalist.

“All that he did was bring into the public domain facts of which the EMPD people were either aware or could easily become aware. So I don’t understand why you would have insisted on a statement by Mr Jeff Wicks,” Madlanga said.

Behari says that after Mkhwanazi’s suspension expired, the matter was never raised again until recently.

READ: Madlanga Commission: Top legal official admits significant gaps led to corruption case lapse

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