By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The City of Ekurhuleni (COE) has confirmed the arrest of its suspended Head of Legal, Advocate Kemi Behari on Wednesday afternoon.
Behari was implicated at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry after evidence emerged that he shielded tainted Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Police Department (EMPD) Chief Julius Mkhwanazi from disciplinary action.
He denied those allegations when he testified before the commission.
Behari, who served as the City of Ekurhuleni’s head of legal and risk, was placed on precautionary suspension with full pay in December 2025.
Mkhwanazi remains at the centre of the mess within the EMPD, facing links to a murder case and accused of running a rogue unit allegedly involved in extortion, kidnapping, theft and truck hijackings.
More importantly, Mkhwanazi negotiated an unlawful memorandum of understanding between the EMPD and attempted-murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company, CAT VIP Protection Services. His suspension in November comes years after calls for his removal.
He was arrested at the city’s Germiston offices on Wednesday, shortly after his disciplinary hearing concluded.
SAPS spokesperson Brig. Athlenda Mathe said the Commission’s Recommendations Task Team (CRTT) is currently conducting a takedown operation.
“No further information will be provided until the operation has been concluded,” Mathe said.
He is expected to appear in court on Thursday, 09 July 2026.
Fullview also learnt that former Ekurhuleni City Manager Imogen Mashazi has been asked to present herself to law enforcement authorities.
Meanwhile the Commission has granted Witness M’s application to testify in-camera after the witness raised concerns about their safety and that of their family.
Evidence leader, Advocate Teboho Mosikili, told the commission on Wednesday that Witness M’s evidence should be heard behind closed doors because of the significant security risks involved.
“Chair, at the heart of this application there a serious security and safety concerns to the witness that necessitates that we move for the application to safeguard the interest of the witness that his testimony be heard totally in camera,” said Mosikili.
Commission chair, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, granted the application and adjourned public proceedings to allow the testimony to continue in private.
“So all that I will do now is just to say that the application has been granted and that it will be circulated to the media and also posted on the commission’s website. So that means we adjourn for the hearing of the witness’s testimony in-camera now,” said Madlanga
It remains unclear when the commission will resume its public hearings.
Elsewhere the case against Brown Mogotsi has been postponed to 3 August to allow for further consultations. His lawyer has indicated that they will be filing an appeal at the High Court against the decision to deny bail.