Suspended with full pay: Ekurhuleni legal chief in hot water as scandal over EMPD top cop Julius Mkhwanazi explodes
Suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi, whose alleged conduct forms the backdrop to the City of Ekurhuleni’s precautionary suspension of legal head Adv. Kemi Behari.
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Advocate Kemi Behari, the City of Ekurhuleni’s Head of Legal and Risk Services, has been placed on precautionary suspension — a development that comes as explosive allegations against Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi continue to shake the city’s leadership.
Behari’s suspension, confirmed by the municipality on Wednesday, follows a council resolution empowering City Manager Kagiso Lerutla to act in terms of the Disciplinary Regulations for Senior Managers. The city says the step is procedural and not a finding of wrongdoing.
But Behari's suspension also comes amid allegations that he is accused of failing to institute disciplinary action against Mkhwanazi, despite the serious allegations presented against him at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Mkhwanazi was suspended on 11 November after testimony before the commission linked him to alleged corruption, fraud, fabrication of municipal agreements, and the illegal use of blue-light police equipment by private security companies. Witnesses also accused him of running a so-called rogue unit within EMPD allegedly involved in violent crime, including murder, extortion and hijackings.
Some testimony further suggested that whistle-blower reports were ignored or suppressed, prompting questions about the role of senior officials — including the legal department — in previous oversight failures.
The City, however, did not disclose the reasons for Behari’s suspension. It said he was afforded an opportunity to submit written representations before Lerutla made the decision, which was taken strictly in line with Regulation 6 of the Disciplinary Regulations.
Head of communications Phakamile Mbengashe said the municipality would not release further details at this stage.
“The City remains committed to fair, transparent, and procedurally compliant governance practices,” he said, adding that the matter is now the subject of an internal investigation.
Behari will remain on full pay while the investigation continues.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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