Ekurhuleni council rejects motion to suspend EMPD deputy chief Mkhwanazi. Image: EWN.
(The Post News)- The Ekurhuleni City Council has rejected a motion to suspend Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Acting Chief Julius Mkhwanazi after he took voluntary special leave amid an alleged link to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
The council held a meeting on Thursday, 25 September, to consider a motion for Mkhwanazi to be suspended after he was mentioned in the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry last week. Mkhwanazi is accused of unlawfully providing “blue lights” vehicles to Matlala. The vehicles in question include a BMW X5, a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, a BMW 3-Series, and a VW Golf, all registered under Matlala’s private security company instead of the municipality.
Ekurhuleni Community Safety MMC Sizakele Masuku suggested that the council place Mkhwanazi on precautionary suspension. Masuku added, “The development I can give the council now is that the acting chief of police is on special leave.” Furthermore, Mkwanazi wrote a letter, saying that his special leave is to ensure that he does not hinder the investigation process.
Chairperson for the Independent Ratepayers’ Association of South Africa, Izak Berg, who tabled the motions, stated that he is disappointed with the council’s decision. “I’m very disappointed because if senior officials fail to do their job, councillors and political parties need to step in and take action against the officials.
“It’s a matter of national interest at the moment, and the rest of South Africa is looking at us to see how we’re going to deal with the matter,” he said.
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