Four Ekurhuleni officials arrested in fraud probe

Four senior officials from the City of Ekurhuleni were arrested overnight and appeared in the Germiston Magistrates Court on Thursday, July 9, 2026, on charges related to fraud, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice. The arrests were carried out by the Commission's Recommendations Task Team (CRTT), a police unit acting on evidence presented to the ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Those arrested are former Ekurhuleni City Manager Imogen Mashazi, suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi, suspended head of legal services Kemi Behari, and suspended head of human resources Linda Gxasheka. Following their court appearance, Behari and Mkhwanazi were each released on R50,000 bail, while Mashazi and Gxasheka were remanded in custody. All four are scheduled to return to court on Friday, July 10.

The charges stem from the CRTT's finding that the group protected Mkhwanazi from internal disciplinary processes following the 2023 "blue lights" scandal. In that matter, Mkhwanazi allegedly illegally fitted municipal blue lights and provided official vehicles to businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, and signed an unauthorized memorandum...