Qxasheka defends HR record, credits herself with preventing financial collapse
Suspended City of Ekurhuleni Head of Human Resources Linda Qxasheka has defended her professional record at the municipality.
She told the Madlanga Commission on Thursday that she inherited deep structural problems and managed high-stakes labour disputes and financial crises that she says could have crippled the city.
Qxasheka was suspended after being implicated at the Commission for allegedly protecting suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi from disciplinary action, walking commissioners through her career, first at the City of Johannesburg and later at Ekurhuleni.
It is further alleged that she attempted to suppress a report by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) that found Mkhwanazi guilty of entering into fraudulent contracts with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department and the alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
She highlighted the reforms and interventions she implemented along the way.
"I did a lot of great work,” she told the committee.
Qxasheka said she joined local government in 2008 at the City of Johannesburg, where she rose through the ranks and earned several promotions.
"When I left the City of Joburg, they called me three times while I was at Ekurhuleni, saying: ‘Linda, come back, the city is not functioning in HR without you.’ I’m not there. But I felt I’ve done my journey, and I have a role to play at the City of Ekurhuleni, hence I stayed."
She credited her experience in Johannesburg with preparing her for the challenges she would later face in Ekurhuleni.
"When I was appointed as Divisional Head for Field Services, I implemented the HR business partnering model, something I had successfully introduced in Johannesburg.
"I started by putting systems in place, developing the business partnering model operating model for the city of Ekurhuleni.
"I developed service level agreements without using any service provider. I saved money. When I arrived in Joburg, they spent millions developing that plan. When I came in, I implemented it."
Qxasheka painted a picture of a municipality struggling with operational inefficiencies, particularly in recruitment.
"When I arrived there, recruitment services to fill positions would take more than 365 days.
"I just couldn’t understand that. We’ve got service delivery issues, and residents are not happy, but we cannot have positions filled.
"Hence, I came with service level agreements signed between myself, my team, and line departments. By the time I became HOD, recruitment processes were down to 90 days. Our target now is 60 days. We can do that."
She also described severe capacity constraints within Ekurhuleni’s HR division.
"I’m not a person who comes with excuses of capacity. You do more with less. But Ekurhuleni is still in an implementation phase due to a lack of capacity.
"At that time, I was responsible for HR oversight for 25 departments, with only five HR business partners to support all of them. Most of the work and decisions had to be made centrally."
Qxasheka also touched on labour relations disputes and financial risks, she says she inherited while acting in the role from August 2022, before her permanent appointment in February 2023.
"One of the matters involved the Germiston Pension Fund, which had lockdown issues.
"At that time, Ekurhuleni was expected to pay more than 100 million for the pension not performing. Another was the implementation of the remuneration model.
"The intention at the time was that it would cost the city around 100 million. By the time the process concluded, it cost the city more than 400 and something million, almost half a billion."
She recounted a high-stakes negotiation with unions that could have cost the city R500 million and affected approximately 1,000 employees.
"If you settle this for us and pay us this half a billion, I will retire," she told the Commission, quoting a union representative.
She pushed back, considering the broader impact.
"I asked them: What does it mean for the citizens of Ekurhuleni? What does it mean for employees? It might mean we don’t fill positions once more.
"What does it mean for your own children, for generations to come? These are matters I had to settle. We reduced the exposure from that half a billion to a lesser amount. If I did not, Ekurhuleni might have closed by now."
Qxasheka also highlighted advocacy and diversity initiatives she introduced at the municipality.
"I resuscitated the men’s forum, developed a disability management forum, and established a women's empowerment forum. I felt we needed an inclusive and diverse workforce. These are issues I felt must be shared.”
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