Julius Mkhwanazi and Kemi Behari granted bail, Mashazi spends night in jail

Suspended EMPD deputy chief, Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi and suspended Ekurhuleni head of legal, Adv Kemi Behari, have been granted bail R50,000 each.

The two are among the four accused who have appeared at the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. They are facing charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

Mkhwanazi and Behari were joined by the former Human Resources Head, Linda Gxasheka and former Ekurhuleni City Manager, Imogen Mashazi.

Meanwhile, Mashazi and Gxasheka's bail will be heard on Friday. This is to allow prosecutors to complete outstanding address verification

Mashazi's legal team said the Crime Intelligence Technical Response Team was adequately equipped to conduct the address verification overnight.

Representing Gxasheka, her lawyer argued that delaying the proceedings for several days would be unfair, noting that she is the mother of a four-year-old child.

The magistrate said several factors, including the interests of minor children, had to be considered before deciding on bail.

Mkhwanazi, already out on R30,000 bail in a separate case linked to Ekurhuleni Municipal Manager Kagiso Lerutla, is expected to join the others in the dock.

The arrests come amid explosive testimony before the Madlanga Commission, where witnesses alleged Behari failed for years to act on findings against Mkhwanazi, allowing disciplinary proceedings to stall.

In their affidavits, the two have denied allegations against them.

The commission also heard allegations that Behari and Gxasheka received irregular salary increases worth about R600,000 in return for allegedly ensuring Mkhwanazi's disciplinary case disappeared.

Former municipal employee relations head Xolani Nciza testified that disciplinary action against Mkhwanazi was unexpectedly halted in 2023.

Behari has denied all allegations, maintaining that claims that he accepted a bribe are false and without foundation.

[email protected]

IOL Politics