Madlanga Commission | Behari rejects claims that R600,000 salary hike was a ‘loyalty fee’
The suspended head of legal services in the City of Ekurhuleni, Kemi Behari, has testified at the Madlanga Commission on Monday.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL News
Suspended City of Ekurhuleni legal head Adv. Kemi Behari has flatly denied explosive claims that a R600,000 salary increase he received was a “loyalty bonus” for helping derail disciplinary action against suspended EMPD acting chief, commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi.
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission on Monday, Behari dismissed the allegation as false, damaging, and devoid of evidence.
“There was no loyalty bonus,” he told the commission, insisting the increase was neither a bribe nor linked to any improper intervention in Mkhwanazi’s case.
The accusation traces back to testimony delivered in November 2025 by former Ekurhuleni employee relations head Xolani Nciza.
Nciza alleged that disciplinary charges against Mkhwanazi were abruptly halted around February 20, 2023, allegedly following pressure from then city manager Dr Imogen Mashazi.
In return, Nciza claimed, Behari and former human resources head Linda Gxasheka were rewarded with substantial salary increases for their “loyalty”.
Behari strongly rejected that version of events. He said claims that his pay hike was linked to making disciplinary charges “go away” were unfounded and aimed squarely at tarnishing his reputation.
“It is shocking and astonishing to be accused of receiving a R600,000 bribe,” Behari told the commission, adding that he welcomed the opportunity to finally confront the allegation under oath.
He suggested the increase was justified, arguing it followed the expansion of his responsibilities and workload within the municipality.
The commission has been probing allegations of political interference, governance failures and misconduct within the City of Ekurhuleni, particularly surrounding the stalled disciplinary process against Mkhwanazi.
The case has wider implications.
As previously reported by IOL, Nciza told the commission that municipal disciplinary processes were allegedly manipulated after Mkhwanazi unlawfully signed memorandums of understanding with companies linked to controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Those MoUs, Nciza testified, would have outsourced critical city functions – including blue light services, legal services, health services, mayoral VIP protection, and administration of the Workmen’s Compensation Fund – to entities linked to Matlala, who has been accused of attempted murder and described as a tender cartel figure.
Behari denied any role in shielding misconduct, maintaining that his actions were lawful and professionally defensible.
The Madlanga Commission continues this week, with further testimony expected from Ekurhuleni officials.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
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