Madlanga Commission | Former city manager ‘pressured HR to reinstate’ Mkhwanazi at EMPD

Former head of employee relations at the City of Ekurhuleni, Xolani Nciza, says the city’s former manager, Dr. Imogen Mashazi, forced him to facilitate the reinstatement of Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi at the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) after months of suspension.

Testifying at the Madlanga Commission, Nciza said Mashazi became increasingly hostile toward him for allegedly trying to extend Mkhwanazi’s suspension, claiming she had a close informal relationship with the senior officer.

The commission heard that during investigations into Mkhwanazi’s alleged involvement in the ‘blue-light saga’, further evidence surfaced suggesting he had also conspired with a group of EMPD officials in the murder of a shop owner, and even proposed where the body should be dumped.

Nciza testified that in May last year, Mashazi called him, shouting and accusing him of having a personal vendetta against Mkhwanazi for wanting to prolong his suspension.

He said by the end of the call, he had been instructed to facilitate Mkhwanazi’s immediate return to duty — and was shocked to find the deputy chief back in the office the next morning.

Nciza told the commission he was never given the opportunity to explain why Mkhwanazi had been kept on suspension.

He added that says several red flags warranted disciplinary action against Mkhwanazi as far back as 2023.

The commission also heard that in April 2023, the EMPD’s Head of Internal Affairs, Colonel Hennie Erasmus, submitted a report to Nciza detailing concerns about Mkhwanazi’s conduct within the department.

He said that one of the most concerning issues was a letter written by Mkhwanazi claiming that the EMPD had established a long-term working relationship with Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company, Cat VIP Security Services.

“There is no working relationship, let alone an endless one. That’s his own working relationship, not the municipality or EMPD. What we came to hear in terms of the investigation is that there was indeed a working relationship but it is not a working relationship of the municipality or EMPD with Cat VIP. It’s a relationship that he constructed outside of regulatory requirements, policies of the municipality and legislation,” said Nciza.

Nciza further questioned the credibility of the letter, noting that it was not addressed to anyone specific — a major procedural flaw in official correspondence.

He said to this day, no one within the EMPD knows who, if anyone, authorised the alleged partnership.

He added that before any memorandum of understanding is drafted, there must be a formal report justifying the need for it — something he insists was never done in this case.

Nciza said charges that were supposed to be brought against Mkhwanazi were withdrawn, effectively nullifying the disciplinary process against him. He added that Mkhwanazi’s case reflects a blatant disregard for the rule of law, recounting events that unfolded while he attempted to play a role in disciplining the now-suspended EMPD deputy police chief.

He revealed that when a charge sheet for Mkhwanazi’s alleged misconduct was produced, an order was issued not to include it in the investigation docket.

Nciza added that when the head of Corporate Legal Services, Kemi Behari, reviewed the docket after then EMPD Police Chief Isaac Mapiyeye submitted it, he ruled there was no case against Mkhwanazi.

Following this, Mapiyeye was instructed to withdraw the charges, rendering the disciplinary process ineffective.

Nciza said corruption and mismanagement in Ekurhuleni are deep-seated.

He added that his attempts to discipline Mkhwanazi were blocked, leading to his own suspension in September 2023 — and that, a few months later, Mkhwanazi was promoted to deputy chief of EMPD.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao