By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The former Divisional head of employee relations at the city of Ekurhuleni, Xolani Nciza, was back on the stand at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday morning.
Nciza detailed the climate of fear in the Metro.
The commission heard during investigations into suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi’s involvement in the ‘blue-light saga’, further evidence surfaced suggesting he had also conspired with a group of EMPD officials in the murder of a shop owner, and even proposed where the body should be dumped.
Nciza, says he was instructed to facilitate Mkhwanazi’s immediate return to work.
According to Nciza, he was never given the opportunity to explain why Mkhwanazi had been kept on suspension.
He was shocked to find the deputy chief back in the office the next morning.
Nziza says the city’s former manager, Dr. Imogen Mashazi, forced him to facilitate the reinstatement of Mkhwanazi.
He said Mashazi became increasingly hostile toward him for trying to extend Mkhwanazi’s suspension, claiming she had a close informal relationship with the senior officer.
Nciza added that when the head of Corporate Legal Services, Kemi Behari, reviewed the docket after then EMPD Police Chief Isaac Mapiyeye, he ruled there was no case against Mkhwanazi.
Following this, Mapiyeye was instructed to withdraw the charges, rendering the disciplinary process ineffective.
Nciza said corruption and mismanagement in Ekurhuleni are deep-seated.
He added that his attempts to discipline Mkhwanazi were blocked, leading to his own suspension in September 2023 — and that, a few months later, Mkhwanazi was promoted to deputy chief of EMPD.
He added that several red flags warranted disciplinary action against Mkhwanazi as far back as 2023.
The commission also heard that in April 2023, the EMPD’s Head of Internal Affairs, Colonel Hennie Erasmus, submitted a report to Nciza detailing concerns about Mkhwanazi’s conduct within the department.
Nciza told the commission that they had to tread carefully when dealing with matters including certain senior officials and other state holders.
This included tackling corruption cases of Mkhwanazi and his associate, Vusimuzi Cat Matlala.
Mkhwanazi is accused of helping to fit blue lights on Matlala’s vehicles and forging documents so that Matlala’s CAT VIP security firm could provide services to the city.
Witnesses before the commission revealed that Mkhwanazi led a SWAT unit that was involved in theft, robbery, extortion, murder, kidnapping and bribery.