Suspended Ekurhuleni Human Resources head, Linda Gqxasheka, testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Thursday, responding to allegations that she unlawfully interfered in a disciplinary process against suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Suspended Ekurhuleni Human Resources head, Linda Gxasheka, testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Thursday that she stormed out of a meeting discussing the then divisional director Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi's potential suspension in February 2023.
She left after voicing concerns about her home security in light of the information that Mkhwanazi was "very dangerous".
Gxasheka is accused of being part of a municipal clique blocking a disciplinary process against Mkhwanazi, implicated in installing blue lights on private vehicles belonging to alleged crime mastermind Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.
He allegedly facilitated the registration of those vehicles in the city's name.
Mkhwanazi, currently suspended as a deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD), was promoted to this position at the end of 2023 despite facing misconduct allegations.
He was suspended last year after the same allegations resurfaced at the commission and is part of the individuals recommended in a preliminary commission report shared with President Cyril Ramaphosa for criminal investigation.
Testifying at the commission, Gxasheka said she learnt about the blue lights scandal involving Matlala's vehicles around February 2023.
She said the issue of blue lights came to municipal officials' attention based on social media clips that had been circulating at the time.
According to her, she did not know Mkhwanazi as he was still holding a middle management position.
She testified that on February 2, 2023, the metro police acting chief, Rivo Spies, initiated an investigation into Mkhwanazi's conduct.
She told the commission that she learnt about the blue light matter after former city divisional head of employee relations, Xolani Nciza, shared with her a WhatsApp message with a video clip showing the private vehicles fitted with blue lights.
Subsequent to that, she said, Nciza called a meeting to discuss Mkhwanazi's suspension with the suspended EMPD chief, Isaac Mapiyeye, and Gxasheka in attendance.
She told the commission that at the meeting in question, Nciza stated "we are in a war" and went on to say how dangerous Mkhwanazi is.
Gxasheka said Mapiyeye told them he has increased his VIP protectors; he is about to install cameras and beef up security in his house.
"I then asked: What about Xolani Nciza and myself? We are divisional heads. We don't have money to beef up our security in our homes and so forth. The chief, in his response, then says 'Look, I am arranging VIP protection for Xolani'.
"And I said in that meeting, 'Chief, I am a woman. You are arranging protection for yourself. You don't care about my safety. I think Mr Nciza attested to that (in his testimony). I then said you don't care about my safety...I have got a baby. I have just had a small baby that I must raise," she said.
She told the commission that Mapiyeye was indifferent to her frustrations, adding: "Chief (Mapiyeye) was just cold. I left the office and didn't sign a suspension letter."
She, however, stated that she eventually signed Mkhwanazi's three-month suspension letter with Nciza as a co-signatory.
Gxasheka has also been accused of refusing to extend Mkhwanazi's suspension after three months had lapsed.
She testified that she was walking to sign an extension letter but that former city manager Dr Imogen Mashazi had instructed them to lift the suspension due to a delayed disciplinary hearing against Mkhwanazi.
She said Mashazi had called a meeting where Nciza indicated that the process had advanced and that an arrest for Mkhwanazi was imminent.
Head of Ekuhuleni’s Risk and Legal Services Department, Advocate Khemraj Behari, who was part of the said meeting, has been accused of sharing information about the potential extension of Mkhwanazi's 2023 suspension to Mashazi to shield Mkhwanazi from disciplinary proceedings.
Nciza testified last year that Mashazi unexpectedly attacked him after Mkhwanazi's suspension was up for extension.
Mashazi allegedly accused Nciza and Mapiyeye of having a personal vendetta against Mkhwanazi. Mashazi denied that she interfered in the disciplinary process against Mkhwanazi, who was a brigadier in 2023, facing allegations of fraud and corruption.
Gxasheka also disputed allegations that she instructed Mkhwanazi not to accept the charge sheet.
Gqxasheka's testimony is under way.