Madlanga Commission: Behari concedes to making 'false' statements

The City of Ekurhuleni’s suspended head of legal - Kemi Behari - has conceded to making “false” statements to the Madlanga Commission.

Behari initially submitted a statement to the commission, saying the municipality never intended to challenge the findings of police watchdog Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) regarding its investigation into the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD)’s Deputy Chief, Julius Mkhwanazi.

In 2023, IPID found Mkhwanazi entered the municipality into an irregular contract with companies linked to suspected crime boss Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.

One of main allegations levelled against Behari is that he was part of a clique of senior municipal officials who protected Mkhwanazi from accountability.

Following IPID’s damning report on Mkhwanazi, Behari drafted a response letter to the entity - which disputed its findings of fraud and corruption against Mkhwanazi.

In his statement submitted to the Madlanga Commission, Behari said he never intended to send the draft letter to IPID and it was an internal document.

However, the commission’s evidence leader - Lee Segeels-Ncube - presented an email trail on Tuesday morning showing Behari sent the letter to the MMC for Community Safety to attach their letter head, sign and send it to IPID.

“Let’s make this concession and say okay, it was contrary to that, it was false in terms of what I said in the 184 (paragraph 184 of his statement to the commission). I accept that.”

“And then paragraph 185 of your statement: ‘the allegation that the draft represented an official stance by the city is incorrect.’ It isn’t incorrect, that was the position that was an official stance by the city because it got sent to the MMC to put on her letterhead and sign and send to IPID, that must be the official position.”

“I agree,” replied Behari.

The MMC for Community Safety at the time - Sizakele Masuku - never forwarded the draft letter to IPID.