Suspended Ekurhuleni legal head denies R600k raise was bribe for shielding cops

The suspended head of legal for the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Khemraj Behari, denied on Monday that his R600,000 salary increase was due to him shielding senior metro police officers from accountability.

Behari testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry over allegations he failed to implement disciplinary action against the corruption-accused deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, Julius Mkhwanazi.

A previous witness at the commission alleged Behari was rewarded with a R600,000 salary increase for this, despite having spent less than a year in his new role.

Before being promoted to head up the Ekurhuleni municipality’s legal department, Behari had been working as the divisional head for by-law and compliance.

As divisional head, Behari said his annual salary was R2,088,000; however, the approved salary for the head of legal was lower than that at R2,055,000.

Behari said he raised the issue with the city manager, noting that he was taking a pay cut despite getting a promotion and taking on more responsibility.

"Then there was a full process through the remuneration committee, which, when they have made a decision, they then move to the mayoral committee, and the mayoral committee approves those increases based on our submissions.

"Because the mayoral committee is a committee of council, they then do a noting to council. So any councillors not happy with that, they can say to the mayoral committee I want more details. That is why I was concerned when it looked as if I was just given the R600k in my pocket."

Behari said he was not involved in the process for his salary increase.