The Madlanga Commission has concluded that Vusimuzi Cat Matlala never intended to hand over any vehicles to the Ekurhuleni Metro. The commission found that suspended officials—Deputy Police Chief Julius Mkhwanazi, Head of Legal Services Imogen Mashazi, and City Manager Kemi Behari—colluded to have the municipality pay for the registration of Matlala’s vehicles under the guise of a donation, fully aware that the fleet would never be transferred.
While previous testimonies showed Mkhwanazi played a central role in securing municipal funds for the registrations, Behari, whose two-day testimony ended on Tuesday, was identified as an enabler of wrongdoing. He wrote letters that legitimised what were otherwise unlawful acts by Mkhwanazi and led a pushback against the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), which had recommended disciplinary action and criminal charges against Mkhwanazi following an investigation.
Commissioner Sisi Baloyi repeatedly challenged Behari during his testimony. “In your long letter to IPID, you claim Mkhwanazi did nothing wrong. You argue that he was merely executing tasks assigned to him, that he did not register vehicles himself, and that it was standard practice to accept donations. You say it was the Chief of Police’s fault the MOU was not completed. Essentially, your letter defends Mkhwanazi while deflecting responsibility. Explain that,” Baloyi said, visibly frustrated.
Behari was unable to refute the evidence and insisted the initial arrangement with Matlala was intended to benefit the city. “The city was going to benefit, Chair, that is in terms of the agreement,” he said. Baloyi swiftly interjected, noting that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was structured in Matlala’s favor and, because it was never signed, was not legally binding. Behari eventually conceded that the municipality never took possession of the vehicles.
Under the MOU, Matlala’s vehicles were registered as the property of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department, while he retained ownership and control. The commission’s findings suggest municipal resources were misused to benefit a private individual, with Mkhwanazi orchestrating the scheme and Behari providing administrative and legal cover.
Meanwhile, another suspended official, Linda Gxasheka, briefly appeared before the commission, with her testimony postponed to February 26 and 27. Evidence Leader Lee Segeels-Ncube told the inquiry that Gxasheka required more time to review a document submitted by the suspended HR Director on the eve of her appearance. Gxasheka was also implicated by several witnesses as an enabler of wrongdoing in the municipality.