News24 | Ekurhuleni council meets urgently to discuss damning allegations at Madlanga Commission

Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza announced a closed meeting later today where his council will discuss disciplinary action against Julius Mkhwanazi.

• Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza announced a closed meeting later today where his council will discuss disciplinary action against Julius Mkhwanazi.
• Mkhwanazi, the metro police’s suspended deputy chief, allegedly assisted with fitting blue lights to vehicles belonging to tenderpreneur Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.
• Xhakaza also announced the release of a report in three weeks on what the Madlanga Commission heard about 275 EMPD officers with criminal records.

The City of Ekurhuleni will hold an extraordinary council sitting on Tuesday after allegations against a senior manager and other officials came to light at the Madlanga Commission.

The closed meeting at 14:00 will discuss the ongoing investigation into why disciplinary action was not pursued against Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi.

At a press briefing on Tuesday morning, Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza said a preliminary report by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate on Mkhwanazi would be presented to the council.

The meeting, to be held behind closed doors and without any media present, will discuss disciplinary action against Mkhwanazi, before the council pronounces on the “appropriate action” to be taken against him.

Xhakaza said those at the meeting would also discuss issuing a report within 21 days on the 275 EMPD officers with criminal records.

The mayor added that there would also be a review of the alleged irregular promotion of 55 officers. This would come before council in seven days during its ordinary sitting.

“If found to be irregular, corrective action will follow,” Xhakaza said.

This comes as the Madlanga Commission has put Ekurhuleni under the spotlight, hearing allegations of corruption, criminal infiltration, and abuse of power within the EMPD and in the metro’s upper ranks. Among the allegations, on which News24 previously reported, is that Mkhwanazi allegedly allowed the installation of unauthorised blue lights on vehicles linked to Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.

At the briefing on Tuesday, Xhakaza said his council would institute a review of the alleged VIP protection deployments, including the alleged misuse of blue lights. In addition, a team of officials would be assembled to monitor the testimony at the Madlanga Commission, so “every finding can be tracked”.

“The commission has revealed severe administration issues,” he added.

Xhakaza said the mayor’s office would also be getting security advice and would appoint a “Commissioner of Integrity” for this purpose.

The City has also written to IPID, asking for an “urgent update” on the Ekurhuleni officers.

“The gravity of these alleged failures underscores the City’s renewal agenda. The issues surfacing internally and at the commission highlight that systems need to be rebuilt,” Xhakaza said.

He added that they could not afford to only take action after the commission was over in six months.

“This is because we must act with speed so the community can be happy that they are safe during the festive season.”