Ekurhuleni brings in private firm to vet metro police amid corruption scandal

The City of Ekurhuleni has brought in a private company to vet its metro police officers amid serious corruption allegations.

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) has been at the top of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry’s agenda, where some senior officials were linked to alleged wrongdoing.

In its interim report, the commission recommended investigations and possible prosecutions of five EMPD officers, including suspended Chief Julius Mkhwanazi. The city began the vetting process at its internal audit offices in Alberton today.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address focused strongly on revelations of police corruption at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. During his speech last Thursday, he announced that the State Security Agency (SSA) has been brought in to re-vet officers across all metro police departments.

Now that the City of Ekurhuleni has launched its own internal vetting process, this means EMPD officers will be vetted by both the SSA and the private forensic firm.

City Manager Kagiso Lerutla says the move is aimed at restoring public trust in the EMPD.

"We agree that there is a trust deficit, but there are two independent processes that we can rely on. The first is that this process is being done by an independent forensic company, and the second is that we have included the State Security Agency."

About 3,000 EMPD officers will be vetted by the private firm.