Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has announced a major internal review of the city’s metro police department, ordering a full probe into promotions, officers with criminal records, and the deployment of VIP protection units.
The announcement, made during a press briefing on Wednesday, comes in the wake of startling testimony presented at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which has exposed a deep-seated culture of abuse and intimidation within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD).
Mayor Xhakaza confirmed he has ordered a review of all promotions made by the suspended deputy EMPD chief, Julius Mkhwanazi. This includes an investigation into 55 specific promotions to determine if the individuals met the requisite requirements and if all due processes were followed.
In a significant move, the mayor also announced a full review of the deployment of VIP protection officers and the use of blue lights, practices often cited in complaints of power abuse.
Furthermore, Xhakaza has committed to a 21-day audit to identify 275 police officers who have been reported and are allegedly facing criminal charges. The probe will seek to distinguish between historical “political crimes” from the pre-1994 integration era and new, active criminal cases.
“We have to act immediately,” Mayor Xhakaza stated, describing the initiative as a “cleanup campaign.” “Our communities want haste, and we have to act decisively.”
The mayor was scheduled to table reports before a full council meeting Wednesday afternoon to seek a mandate for official action. He emphasized that the reports remain sensitive to protect the integrity of the process, but that council engagement is crucial for the accounting officer to be authorized to take “appropriate action.”
When confronted about the apparent oversight failures that allowed the situation to develop, Mayor Xhakaza acknowledged the political instability that has plagued the municipality, noting he is the third mayor since 2021. He revealed he recently survived a motion of no confidence, which he attributed to those who “benefit from the rot.”
“Where there is instability, criminality and all these other shenanigans they actually crop up,” he said.
To combat the systemic issues, the mayor announced the establishment of new measures, including the appointment of a “Commissioner of Integrity.” This official will be tasked with upholding ethics and providing an anonymous reporting platform for internal staff to report misconduct.
The council’s resolutions following its afternoon sitting are highly anticipated, as the council holds the sole power to appoint, suspend, or fire senior officials within the city’s administration. The outcome is seen as a critical test of the municipality’s commitment to rooting out the alleged corruption and malfeasance laid bare by the Madlanga Commission.