Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and suspended City of Ekurhuleni Head of Legal Risk Services Kemi Behari have each been granted R50,000 bail by the Germiston Magistrate’s Court.
However, the pair will spend the night behind bars after the court heard that the bail offices had already closed.
Mkhwanazi and Behari are among four current and former City of Ekurhuleni officials facing charges of corruption, fraud and defeating the ends of justice.
The case centres on allegations that Mkhwanazi was protected from disciplinary action after he was accused of helping alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala obtain blue lights for his vehicles.
Blue lights are reserved for authorised emergency and law-enforcement vehicles. Their alleged unlawful use has raised concerns about the impersonation of law-enforcement officers and the abuse of municipal resources.
Mkhwanazi was suspended by the City of Ekurhuleni amid allegations involving Matlala, who has been linked to several criminal investigations. The charges now before the court stem from claims that senior municipal officials interfered with or frustrated internal disciplinary processes involving Mkhwanazi.
Magistrate Trevor Klassen granted bail to Mkhwanazi, who is accused number two, and Behari, accused number four, subject to several conditions.
Mkhwanazi has been ordered to submit outstanding documents to the investigating officer before the end of business on Thursday. He must also report to Brooklyn Police Station every Friday between 5am and 8pm until the matter is finalised.
He has further been ordered not to contact City of Ekurhuleni employees attached to the finance, human resources or procurement sections, except in relation to his disciplinary enquiry.
Mkhwanazi must also inform the investigating officer before travelling abroad or leaving Gauteng.
Behari has been ordered to notify the investigating officer before travelling outside the country.
Klassen warned the pair that the State could apply for their bail to be forfeited should they fail to comply with the conditions.
Former City of Ekurhuleni municipal manager Imogen Mashazi and suspended Head of Human Resources Linda Gxasheka are also implicated in the matter.
Their bail applications were not finalised on Thursday, as the court ordered the verification of their home addresses. They are expected to return to the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 10 July 2026, when their bail applications will be heard.
The four were arrested overnight by the Commission Recommendations Task Team during an operation conducted in different parts of Johannesburg.
The matter was postponed to Friday.
