Evidence mounts of Mashazi’s interference to protect suspended EMPD police chief

By Johnathan Paoli

The Madlanga Commission continued its probing sessions on Wednesday afternoon into the alleged misconduct and cover-up involving former Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi, with damning testimony suggesting that senior municipal officials, including former City Manager Dr Imogen Mashazi, abused their authority to protect him from accountability.

Former Ekurhuleni employee relations head Xolani Nciza detailed how, on the evening of 23 May 2023, he received a heated call from Mashazi regarding the possible extension of Mkhwanazi’s suspension.

According to Nciza, Mashazi accused him and then-Police Chief Sibongile Mapiyeye of hating Julius and ordered that he leave Julius alone.

Despite his insistence that suspension decisions were not his to make, Nciza said Mashazi berated him and instructed him to facilitate Mkhwanazi’s return to work.

“She was effectively shouting at me. There was no rational engagement. This was an abuse of power in the extreme,” Nciza told