By Johnathan Paoli
Former Ekurhuleni City Manager Imogen Mashazi on Monday told the Madlanga Commission that corruption allegations against her were an attempt to divert attention from “abuse of authority” and sexual misconduct allegations surrounding metro police (EMPD) chief Isaac Mapiyeye.
She was testifying at the Madlanga Commission, being led by Mahlape Sello (SC).
Mashazi alleged that during her tenure, multiple female officers reported that they were expected to “sleep with men in order to be promoted”.
She said senior positions in the department were dominated by men and that she had repeatedly encouraged women not to accept such behaviour.
In response to these informal complaints, she said she designed a programme aimed at empowering and promoting women, especially those who felt sidelined.
According to Mashazi, several women specifically associated their complaints with Mapiyeye, whom she accused of fathering multiple children with subordinates.
She said that this conduct pointed to a pattern of exploiting power imbalances, adding that he allegedly referred to certain women as his “angels”.
She claimed EMPD spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Kelebogile Thepa was among those favoured, though she provided no evidence to support the allegation.
Commissioner Sesi Baloyi challenged Mashazi on why she was naming Thepa, who previously testified that she faced intimidation after engaging with journalists investigating the “blue lights” scandal involving Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi.
Baloyi said Mashazi’s insinuations were “deeply troubling”, noting the absence of proof and the potential harm to a professional woman who had given credible evidence.
In response, Mashazi confirmed that “angels” referred to women who allegedly had sexual relationships with Mapiyeye in exchange for promotions.
But when pressed by Baloyi to state whether she would provide evidence in her supplementary affidavit, Mashazi deflected, questioning whether the commission had demanded evidence from a former official who accused her of having an improper relationship with Mkhwanazi.
The exchange heightened concerns among commissioners about Mashazi’s reluctance to confront the allegations during her time in office.
She acknowledged learning of claims as early as 2016, including accusations amounting to sexual harassment and, in one instance, rape.
However, she conceded that she took no investigative action, saying the women “did not want to make formal complaints”.
Madlanga criticised this stance.
“Are you suggesting that as a leader, [when] you get reports of such horrendous acts by the chief of police, you fold your arms because there are no formal complaints? Why could you not be proactive and get to the bottom of the reports you received?” he asked.
Baloyi added that these were not rumours but direct verbal allegations and Mashazi did nothing about it.
Mapiyeye was placed on precautionary suspension in late September 2024 following allegations of sexual misconduct lodged by a female traffic officer under his command.
The complainant alleges that Mapiyeye subjected her to persistent unwanted sexual advances dating back to 2011, and that after she blocked his number in July 2024, he attempted to contact her family members.
The internal probe however has not been finalised, despite an investigative probe being appointed specifically to investigate the allegations.
Testifying at the commission last month, Mapiyeye said the allegations were an attempt to silence him on corruption and misconduct within the department, especially against Mkhwanazi.
The suspended police chief had not officially commented on the latest expansion on the allegations at the time of publication.
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