JOHANNESBURG - When the chips started falling within law enforcement, it was only a matter of time before the trail led to alleged criminality within municipalities.
The City of Ekurhuleni and the City of Tshwane found themselves centre stage during testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where witnesses painted a picture of alleged corruption and criminality.
In Ekurhuleni, the Commission heard details of alleged links between suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and alleged underworld kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Evidence before the Commission alleged that vehicles linked to Matlala were registered under the City of Ekurhuleni and fitted with blue lights.
Mkhwanazi told the Commission that he first met Matlala in 2021 after being introduced to him by Mike van Wyk, founder of Medicare24.
READ | Julius Mkhwanazi accused of receiving several payments from 'Cat' Matlala
According to his testimony, the pair developed a close relationship and interacted regularly. They eventually referred to each other by their first names, with what began as a professional relationship evolving into what Mkhwanazi described as a brotherly bond.
He said Matlala wanted to improve his business operations. Mkhwanazi alleged that Matlala’s vehicles were “donated” to the City.
He said this was how CAT VIP vehicles were registered.
READ | Mkhwanazi: I can’t go to jail for something I didn’t do
The suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief was thrown further under the bus when more evidence was provided by his former lover, who was known to the Commission as Witness K after testifying in camera.
She implicated Mkhwanazi in the 2023 theft of precious stones valued at R14.9 million.
Witness K, who was also a JMPD VIP Protection Unit inspector, testified that she became romantically involved with Mkhwanazi in 2022.
READ | CAT VIP had ‘good intentions’ for EMPD, says Mkhwanazi
She admitted her role in the 2023 operation, detailing to the Commission how she passed on information about the stones after Mkhwanazi repeatedly pressed her for details.
Mkhwanazi, on the other hand, allegedly arranged for officers to unlawfully seize the stones from their owner.
The picture grew even darker when former EMPD official Marius van der Merwe, identified as Witness D, implicated Mkhwanazi in an alleged murder cover-up in Brakpan.
According to van der Merwe, Mkhwanazi instructed him to dispose of a body in a nearby dam.
When the spotlight shifted to the City of Tshwane, the situation appeared no better, as allegations of corruption and tender irregularities involving senior officials came under scrutiny.
The first domino to fall was ActionSA councillor Kholofelo Morodi.
She was placed on special leave after being implicated in alleged tender rigging.
She was accused of sharing internal tender documents relating to land lease tenders with suspended sergeant Fannie Nkosi.
Next was Deputy Chief of the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), Umashi Dhlamini.
He was implicated in tender irregularities linked to a lucrative security contract.
Then there was the City’s Chief Financial Officer, Gareth Mnisi, who faced a heated round of questioning before the Commission.
No matter how many times he tried to dodge questions, he repeatedly found himself backed into a corner as commissioners poked holes in his testimony.
Mnisi was implicated in allegations of tender rigging and procurement irregularities.
He was also questioned about his alleged role in influencing the awarding of contracts to preferred bidders.
At the centre of the probe were two security tenders in the Tshwane metro.
Mnisi denied any wrongdoing, telling the Commission he has no business interests and has never received any form of gratification from companies bidding for City contracts.
A forensic report seen by eNCA recommended disciplinary action against Mnisi.
The report alleged that Mnisi failed to declare his directorships in companies and did not disclose his relationship with a construction company involved in two municipal tenders.
Governance expert Professor Sam Koma, who spoke to eNCA about the revelations emerging from the Commission, did not mince his words.
He said the revelations coming out of the Madlanga Commission, less than a year after its inception, affirm that corruption and fraud in the local government sector are deep-rooted.
He added that this sphere of government has operated under the radar and escaped public scrutiny for many years.
"The phenomenon of institutional capture of local government by criminal networks comprising extortionists, tender riggers, and manipulators has been laid bare as a result of the work of the Madlanga Commission," he said.
Koma painted a grim picture, claiming that law enforcement officials, politicians and businesspeople all have a stake in the tender pie across the metros.
He said that when those entrusted with managing public resources, enforcing the law and delivering essential services begin fighting over power and money, ordinary citizens bear the brunt.
"Corruption in local government has contributed to the provision of low-quality basic services, poor quality of life, and rising cost of the provision of basic services in the metros, Koma said.
He warned that if nothing changes after the Commission’s revelations, communities, civil society and the media must remain vigilant to safeguard public funds and demand accountability.