As of December 12, 2025, the City of Ekurhuleni has placed its Head of Human Resources, Linda Gxasheka, on precautionary suspension with immediate effect. This action follows her implication in the ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into the municipality’s administrative and governance failures. Gxasheka is accused of failing to implement recommendations from a 2023 Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) report, which called for disciplinary proceedings against Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi. The suspension is described by the municipality as an administrative measure to safeguard internal processes and stability, not a determination of guilt.
Background on the Allegations
- IPID Investigation (2023): The probe examined claims that Mkhwanazi entered the EMPD into fraudulent contracts with companies owned by Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, an alleged underworld figure. These deals reportedly granted Matlala unauthorized access to EMPD blue lights and other resources, raising concerns of corruption and misuse of public assets.
- Failure to Act: Gxasheka, along with former city manager Imogen Mashazi and head of legal services Kemi Behari (who was suspended earlier on December 3), allegedly stalled or halted disciplinary hearings against Mkhwanazi. Testimony from former employee relations director Xolani Nciza at the Madlanga Commission revealed that Gxasheka expressed reluctance to proceed due to “risks” associated with the suspension, despite clear IPID directives.
- Rewards for Protection?: Nciza further alleged that Gxasheka and Behari received R600,000 salary increases each as a “token of appreciation” from Mashazi for complying with instructions to shield Mkhwanazi. This halted hearings just three months after Mkhwanazi’s initial 2023 suspension.
Mkhwanazi himself was suspended on December 2, 2025, amid these revelations, but the commission’s probe into broader protection rackets within Ekurhuleni continues.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2023 | IPID investigates Mkhwanazi’s contracts with Matlala; recommends disciplinary action. Hearings initiated but stalled after three months. |
| November 2025 | Nciza testifies at Madlanga Commission, implicating Gxasheka in halting proceedings and receiving bonuses. City council debates suspending Gxasheka and Behari. |
| December 2, 2025 | Behari suspended for failing to enforce action against Mkhwanazi. |
| December 3, 2025 | Mkhwanazi suspended over fraudulent contract links. |
| December 12, 2025 | Gxasheka placed on precautionary suspension. |
This development underscores ongoing efforts to clean up Ekurhuleni’s governance amid the Madlanga Commission’s scrutiny. No further details on Gxasheka’s disciplinary process have been released, but the inquiry remains active.
