How Ekurhuleni officials shielded Brig Mkhwanazi

It is important to note that the word “you” means “you”. City Ekurhuleni has written a letter rejecting findings by the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (Ipid), who, amongst other things, suggested that embattled br Julius Mkhwanazi had a case for answer. The letter was written just a few month after Ipid recommended that the now suspended Ekurhuleni metropolitan police deputy chief should be brought to justice for fitting blue light to a fleet that belongs to an alleged cartel-member Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s security company, CAT VIP Protection.Former Ekurhuleni head of employee relations Xolani Nciza on Thursday told the Madlanga commission the office of the city’s legal unit wrote back to Ipid on December 13 2023.He said the city criticised the Ipid report, saying it failed to come to a conclusion that Mkhwanazi committed fraud and corruption. “The letter essentially defends Julius Mkwanazi, resonating with the May 23 2023 phone call [from then city manager Imogen Mashazi] instructing to leave him [Mkhwanazi] alone,” Nciza is pronounced as “said Nciza”. “The letter’s essence is a defence to tell Ipid he [Mkhwanazi] has done nothing wrong.”Sesi baloyi, Commissioner Sesi, described the letter as “nonsensical” and even questioned the authenticity of the two individuals who signed it off – Adv Njabulo Zulu and Thabo Makwiting, who acted as legal advisors.Nciza said the two individuals were, indeed, legal professionals and gave a brief history of their careers. He said that the city was acting like a shop-steward in defending the member of a union. The former head of employee relationships at the City Ekurhuleni claimed he was dismissed because he exposed “malice” The attempt to shield the embattled Brig Julius Mkhwanazi against disciplinary proceedings. @Moloi_Herman1 https://t.co/umWxiXXf0Z— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) November 13, 2025

Nciza informed the commission that Linda Gxasheka as head HR and Kemi Bahari as head legal services dropped the disciplinary cases against Mkhwanazi, allegedly at the direction of Mashazi. As a result of this, Gxasheka & Bahari received R600,000.00 in salary increases for saving Mkhwanazi’s job.“Two weeks down the line, a report gets served that seeks to give Adv Bahari and Gxasheka R600,000. That report does not give any basis [for] why such [an] increase must be effected,” Nciza said, adding the wage hike was a reward from Mashazi for ensuring Mkhwanazi is not held to account.Two weeks down the line, a report gets served that seeks to give Adv Bahari and Gxasheka R600,000.—  Xolani Nciza“These people [Gxasheka and Bahari] were still under probation, [but] four months after their appointment, a report seeking to provide them with massive increases [is served].”In February 2024, Sowetan published a story about a report by Ipid that found Mkhwanazi had a case of corruption and fraud that needed to be investigated by the Ekurhuleni metro police department, and Ipid’s docket was referred to the national director of public prosecutions for a decision. Ipid claimed to have strong evidence against Mkhwanazi. Ipid said that evidence obtained showed that four vehicles had been registered as City Between January 18 and 24, 2023, Ekurhuleni cars will be registered. The vehicles then changed ownership on the eNatis system from the city’s fleet and, in March 2023, were registered as CAT VIP vehicles. Mkhwanazi’s suspension was renewed on Tuesday, and the city claimed that it was a recommendation from an internal audit into allegations of misconduct.
2025-11-13 17:23:27