Four arrested Ekurhuleni municipality officials due in court
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed the arrest of four suspects during an overnight takedown operation carried out across various parts of Johannesburg.
The arrests were executed by the Commission's Recommendations Task Team, which has been acting on findings emerging from ongoing investigations into alleged wrongdoing within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.
According to SAPS, those taken into custody include both current and former municipal employees.
It has been widely reported that those arrested include former city manager Imogen Mashazi, head of legal Advocate Kemi Behari, and suspended Head of Human Resources Linda Gxasheka.
Police say further details surrounding the arrests and the charges the suspects may face will be released once they have formally appeared in court.
ARREST LINKED TO MADLANGA COMMISSION FINDINGS
Behari's arrest follows testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where allegations surfaced that he helped shield Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Chief Julius Mkhwanazi from disciplinary action.
He was taken into custody at the municipality's Germiston offices shortly after concluding a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday.
ALLEGATIONS OF INTERFERENCE IN DISCIPLINARY PROCESSESS
The controversy dates back to 2023, when the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) recommended that Mkhwanazi face urgent disciplinary action.
This was in connection with allegations of an improper relationship with alleged crime figure Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, including claims that Mkhwanazi authorised the use of blue lights on Matlala's private vehicles through an irregular agreement.
Despite the recommendations, disciplinary proceedings against Mkhwanazi were never instituted. Instead, he was later promoted within the metro police department.
Evidence presented at the Madlanga Commission suggested that Behari may have intervened to prevent those proceedings from taking place—claims he denied during his testimony.
All four suspects are expected to make their first court appearance in Germiston on Thursday, where the state is likely to outline the charges against them.
SAPS has indicated that it will provide additional information as the legal process progresses.
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