Advocate Behari denies R600,000 'loyalty bonus' claims at Madlanga Commission
SUBSTANTIAL SALARY INCREASE
The suspended head of legal services in the City of Ekurhuleni, Kemi Behari, testified at the Madlanga Commission on Monday about allegations against suspended deputy chief of Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Julius Mkhwanazi in 2023.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL News
SUSPENDED City of Ekurhuleni legal head Advocate Kemi Behari has vehemently denied allegations that his R600,000 salary increase was a reward for helping derail disciplinary action against EMPD acting chief Julius Mkhwanazi.
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission today (Monday), Behari rejected claims that he received a 'loyalty bonus' for protecting officials allegedly linked to controversial businessman Vusimuzi Matlala.
He dismissed the allegation as false, damaging, and devoid of evidence.
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.