Former Ekurhuleni munucipal manager Imogen Mashazi and co-accused, Advocate Khemrja “Kemi” Behari, Linda Gxasheka and Julius Mkhwanazi appeared at the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Thursday, following their arrests by the Madlanga Commission's Task Team.
Image: Itumeleng English
The long arm of the law has finally caught up with the corridors of power, as the Madlanga Commission’s Task Team executed a sweeping overnight operation across Johannesburg, resulting in the arrest of four current and former City of Ekurhuleni senior employees.
The suspects include head of legal services Advocate Khemrja “Kemi” Behari and disgraced former city manager Dr Imogen Mashazi.
Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and head of human resource Linda Gxasheka are also among the four.
The arrests follow months of explosive evidence detailing how officials allegedly shielded and promoted tainted Metropolitan Police officials despite damning reports from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
The suspects, who appeared before the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Thursday, face allegations of corruption, fraud and defeating the ends of justice, largely centering on a systemic plot to protect a Mkhwanazi from facing the consequences of his actions.
Evidence brought before the commission revealed that in 2023, the IPID handed over an investigative report recommending disciplinary action against Mkhwanazi for alleged fraud and corruption. Instead of facing consequences, officials allegedly promoted Mkhwanazi and shielded him from disciplinary measures. In return, they allegedly received irregular salary increases worth R600,000.
Witnesses alleged these financial boosts served as irregular incentives or “bribes” in exchange for ensuring the disciplinary case against Mkhwanazi disappeared.
The core allegation is that Behari deliberately failed to execute a council resolution and ignored urgent recommendations from IPID to institute disciplinary action against Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi was accused of entering into an irregular memorandum of agreement that granted private security vehicles belonging to alleged underworld cartel boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala unauthorised access to police blue lights. Behari allegedly blocked internal accountability, allowing Mkhwanazi to avoid hearings and instead secure a promotion.
During his own cross-examination, Behari admitted telling Mashazi that the case against Mkhwanazi was “not good”. He also claimed he faced pressure from other high-ranking city managers and accused the ANC of interfering in municipal police matters.
She is accused of actively defending and blocking disciplinary proceedings against suspended Mkhwanazi. Former EMPD Chief Isaac Mapiyeye testified before the commission that Mashazi threatened his life when he attempted to pursue disciplinary action against Mkhwanazi over severe allegations, including kidnapping, extortion, and murder.
She handed herself over to the police in the early hours of Thursday, after a series of overnight search-and-seizure operations across Johannesburg.
During her testimony, Mashazi admitted that the City ignored the IPID disciplinary actions against Mkhwanazi, but she shifted the blame, testifying that Behari advised her that the internal case was “vague” and “not good”.
It was also revealed that Mashazi took an undeclared luxury private jet trip to London in July 2022 with an estimated cost of R3,5 million. The luxury excursion was allegedly funded by prominent businessman Ze Nxumalo through companies heavily tethered to lucrative municipal tenders.
While she initially classified inquiries regarding her R3,5m London shopping trip as harassment, the undeclared flight remains a focal point of the state's ongoing corruption case against her.
He allegedly signed illegal Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) allowing vehicles owned by Matlala to be fraudulently registered as municipal assets and fitted with official police blue and red lights. Evidence presented before the commission suggests these blue lights were allegedly used to provide a “shield” for illicit operations, such as illegal copper-cable theft and drug trafficking, allowing the syndicate's vehicles to move freely without being stopped or checked by regular law.
In June 2026, the commission examined damning WhatsApp chats, voice notes, and video footage involving Medicare 24 CEO Mike van Wyk. Van Wyk allegedly sent videos waving stacks of cash to Mkhwanazi, seeking a fraudulent MoU to secure blue light privileges for a personal vehicle. Testimonies indicate Mkhwanazi received bribes, referred to in messages as “Christmas money” and even exotic items such as ostriches, in exchange for these favours.
Former officials also accused him of running a “rogue unit” within the EMPD involved in truck hijackings, copper theft, extortion, and orchestrating a staged police raid in Killarney in 2023 to unlawfully seize valuable sugilite stones worth millions.
Testimony also revealed Mkhwanazi allegedly ordered the disposal of a suspect's body into a dam near Nigel after the suspect was tortured to death during an interrogation. Whistleblower Marius van der Merwe, who testified about this cover-up, was later assassinated.
Mkhwanazi admitted to receiving direct cash payouts from Matlala and a former JMPD inspector and Mkhwanazi’s ex-girlfriend, testifying as “Witness K”, admitted to plotting a R14,9m precious stones robbery with Mkhwanazi in 2023.
Testimony from former Employee Relations Head Xolani Nciza alleged that Gxasheka was part of an internal “clique” that actively blocked and halted disciplinary action against Mkhwanazi in 2023. Evidence presented to the commission revealed that both Gxasheka and Behari received sudden, irregular 28% salary hikes (amounting to roughly R585,000 to R600,000 each) less than two months after their appointments.
During her appearances before the commission in late February 2026, Gxasheka firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating that she barely knew Mkhwanazi and did not protect him.
She testified that she was terrified of Mkhwanazi and Matlala, noting that even the Chief of Police (who had firearms) was intimidated by them. She said she had previously confided in colleagues that “Matlala is a dangerous man” and she feared for her family's safety.
Behari and Mkhwanazi were granted bail of R50,000 each, with instructions that they report to the nearest police station between 5am and 8am on Fridays. This is after the state opted not to oppose their bail as their residential addresses were verified.
However, the bail applications for Mashazi and Gxasheka were delayed and the court will continue to determine their applications on Friday (July 10).