Madlanga Commission: Evidence leaders expose inconsistencies in Behari’s testimony

Evidence leaders at the Madlanga Commission have exposed several inconsistencies in the testimony of Ekurhuleni’s suspended head of legal, Kemi Behari.

Behari wrapped up his two-day testimony on Tuesday in Pretoria.

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He is accused of being part of a clique of senior municipal officials who shielded the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD)’s deputy chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, from accountability.

In 2023, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) recommended disciplinary action be taken against Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi was found to have entered the municipality into an irregular contract with a private security company linked to suspected crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

Following the report, Ekurhuleni’s legal department drafted a response letter to IPID disputing its findings.

In a statement submitted to the Madlanga Commission, Behari said that there was never any intention to send the draft letter to IPID.

However, an email chain presented by evidence leader Lee Segeels-Ncube shows Behari asked the MMC for Community Safety to sign the letter and forward 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.”

Behari also initially denied authoring a revised letter to the MMC, saying IPID’s recommendations were being implemented.

However, after being presented with evidence, Behari walked back his denial.