Ekurhuleni and Joburg in 2025: A year marked by scandals and suspensions
Ekurhuleni has placed legal chief Kemi Behari on paid suspension as scrutiny intensifies.
Image: File
Troubles for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality continued to pile up in 2025 following damning revelations at the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
The municipality’s now-controversial ex-city manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi, achieved infamy after her testimony at the commission of inquiry investigating allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
Mashazi’s evidence precipitated the suspension of the head of human resources, Linda Gxasheka, who was fingered for allegedly protecting Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) boss Julius Mkhwanazi.
The municipality confirmed that Gxasheka has been placed on precautionary suspension, with immediate effect.
Evidence tabled at the commission stated that Gxasheka, as relayed by suspended EMPD chief Jabulani Mapiyeye, was that Gxasheka and legal boss Advocate Kemi Behari allegedly blocked Mkhwanazi’s suspension
“All my attempts to discipline Mkhwanazi were frustrated by Mashazi, Gxasheka, and Kemi Behari. In fact, these attempts led me to be suspended on numerous occasions, culminating in disciplinary charges for alleged sexual harassment being leveled against me in November 2024,” Mapiyeye told the inquiry.
Behari is the head of the department for legal and risk services.
According to the municipality, the decision followed a resolution of its municipal council in November, which delegated authority to the city manager to consider and implement precautionary suspensions in terms of the Local Government: Disciplinary Regulations for Senior Managers, 2010.
The municipality stated: “In giving effect to the council resolution and acting in accordance with Regulation 6(1) of the Disciplinary Regulations, the city manager, Kagiso Lerutla, assessed whether a basis existed to place the senior manager on precautionary suspension. In compliance with regulation 6(2), the affected senior manager was afforded an opportunity to make written representations prior to a final decision being taken. These representations were duly considered before the decision was reached.”
Behari was also placed on special leave by the municipality over his involvement in the alleged shielding of Mkhwanazi from accountability.
“This decision follows the resolution from its municipal council taken on 18 November 2025, which delegated authority to the city manager to act in terms of the Local Government: Disciplinary Regulations for Senior Managers, 2010 (Government Notice 34213 of 21 April 2011),” the municipality explained.
A few weeks ago, it emerged that Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) boss Andrea Johnson, who is fighting for the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) position, has listed Behari as her reference.
Documents show that on her CV submitted for the position of NDPP, Johnson listed Behari as one of her references.
The submission states that Johnson lists Behari as a reference.
Additionally, both cities of Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg appointed their city managers in Lerutla and Dr Floyd Brink, respectively.
The country’s economic hub is also battling a fallout over its decision to implement a plan to regulate closed-circuit television in private homes.
Meanwhile, Gauteng’s consistently top municipality, the DA-run Midvaal, sweeps all the big awards at a ceremony held by the SA Local Government Association.