By Johnathan Paoli
Suspended City of Ekurhuleni Human Resources head Linda Gxasheka has insisted that the disciplinary process against suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi was halted on the instructions of former city manager Dr Imogen Mashazi, before he was later promoted because there was “no pending disciplinary hearing” against him at the time.
Gxasheka was testifying under questioning by evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson on Friday afternoon, as the Madlanga Commission probed the controversial lifting of Mkhwanazi’s suspension and the city’s handling of serious allegations against him.
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“The stopping of the investigation happened between Dr Mashazi, (Legal Services head) Kemi Behari, and EMPD Chief Isaac Mapiyeye. While everybody stopped the process, I alone did not stop it,” Gxasheka told the commission.
She said she initiated an information-gathering process after noticing what she described as preferential treatment towards Mkhwanazi, and ultimately commissioned a forensic investigation.
Gxasheka insisted that she realised there were irregularities, adding that a charge sheet had been prepared and provided to former Employee Relations manager Xolani Nciza as early as 2024, but was never served on Mkhwanazi.
Commissioner Sesi Baloyi challenged this version, arguing that employee relations and disciplinary matters fell squarely within Gxasheka’s portfolio and that a forensic investigation was inappropriate.
Baloyi further asserted that Gxasheka was aware of a letter drafted by suspended EMPD Chief Mapiyeye stopping the disciplinary process but failed to act.
Gxasheka rejected this, saying she only became aware of the letter after the forensic investigation she had instituted.
Pressed on a legal opinion from Behari that she relied on, Gxasheka initially said he advised against disciplining Mkhwanazi, before rephrasing her answer.
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“The opinion suggested there was insufficient evidence for disciplinary action,” she said.
Baloyi disputed this, maintaining that the opinion did not deal with disciplinary measures at all.
Despite the dispute, Gxasheka insisted she did not interfere with the process.
“The disciplinary process of Julius Mkhwanazi has commenced. As much as I am no longer in the City of Ekurhuleni, the process is underway with the new accounting officer,” she said.
Commissioner Sandile Khumalo was unconvinced, pointing out that the forensic investigation only examined certain narrow issues including whether Mkhwanazi had been defamed, whether the anonymous email which started suspicion breached POPIA, and Nciza’s appointment of attorneys.
“You cannot use it as an answer as to what the city did after the disciplinary proceedings stopped,” Khumalo said.
Gxasheka maintained that the report had to be read in its entirety.
She testified that after a meeting in August 2023, Mashazi explicitly instructed her to halt the disciplinary proceedings.
This directly contradicted Mashazi’s own testimony denying involvement in lifting Mkhwanazi’s suspension.
“Many officials from Ekurhuleni have testified to Dr Mashazi’s involvement. They have no reason to just throw her name in it for no reason. I stand by what I said, instructions were given,” Gxasheka said.
She described her strained relationship with Mashazi, telling the commission she had “no reason to be loyal to that kind of person”.
On Mkhwanazi’s promotion, Gxasheka said the recommendation was made because there was no active disciplinary process at the time.
However, Chaskalson put it to her that Mkhwanazi had never been cleared of the charges, despite ongoing serious allegations and a recommendation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate that he be disciplined.
“It was only fair, if he was ever going to be found guilty, then he could be fired,” Gxasheka responded.
Commissioner Khumalo pushed back sharply.
“It’s not just a case of Mkhwanazi being protected at the position where he was. You knew there were serious allegations, and still supported his promotion,” he said.
The commission continues.