The City of Ekurhuleni in Gauteng has confirmed that the Head of Department for Legal and Risk Services, Kemi Behari, has been placed on precautionary suspension with full pay.
This comes after Behari failed to enforce disciplinary action against the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief, Julius Mkhwanazi.
The city’s spokesperson, Phakamile Mbengashe, revealed that this matter was discussed during a council meeting after he was implicated at the Madlanga Commission of Enquiry.
Mkhwanazi was placed on suspension in November after he was accused of signing the EMPD into a fraudulent contract with a criminal kingpin Vusimuzi Cat Matlala.
It is reported that the matter was reported to the relevant officials in 2023, but no action was taken.
The findings indicated that Matlala’s private security and medical companies were unlawfully issued with the city’s blue and red lights and Mkhwanazi had no authority to join the department in any agreement.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) discovered that the memorandum of understanding signed with Matlala’s VIP Protection and Medicare24 companies was fraudulent.
Behari was one of the officials who failed to implement recommendations made by Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
However, the city says Behari’s suspension is not an admission of guilt and does not constitute disciplinary action.
“It is an interim measure intended to ensure the integrity of ongoing internal processes, protect the interests of the municipality, and uphold principles of good governance,” said Mbengashe.
ALLEGATIONS LEVELLED AGAINST MKHWANAZI
Mkhwanazi appeared in the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday following allegations of criminal infiltration and corruption in the justice cluster.
The deputy chief has been accused of unlawfully signing two memorandum of understanding with Matlala’s companies and leading a unit implicated in serious crimes, including murder.
The EMPD chief, Isaac Mapiyeye, and the Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi, revealed that they never approved the memorandums.
Mashazi testified before the commission that Mkhwanazi’s signing of the memos was irregular.
The city says no further details will be provided at this stage, as the matter is now the subject of an internal investigation.
