Madlanga Commission: Ex-Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi denies shielding EMPD chief

By Johnathan Paoli

Former Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi has distanced herself from accusations that she had interfered and attempted to whitewash investigations into allegations of misconduct of suspended metro police (EMPD) deputy chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi, including the controversial “blue lights” scandal involving Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s companies.

Mashazi appearing before commission on Monday afternoon, repeatedly stressed that the powers of the EMPD police chief were circumscribed by municipal legislation and accountable to the city manager, denying any attempts to usurp Chief Isaac Mapiyeye’s authority, emphasising that her understanding of the EMPD’s powers fell within a “grey area” of municipal governance.

A central part of the hearing dealt with two memoranda of agreement allegedly signed by Mkhwanazi with Matlala.

Mashazi claimed she was unaware of these agreements, describing them as “irregular” and insisting that Mkhwanazi acted beyond his authority.

Evidence presented by Mapiyeye showed that one of these agreements involved