‘NOT ON MY WATCH’Former Ekurhuleni mayor Tania Campbell says corruption allegations during her tenure were probedByVincent Cruywagen

The Madlanga Commission has peeled back the layers of governance in Ekurhuleni, exposing allegations of corruption and institutional decay. Former mayor Tania Campbell insists that any allegations brought to her attention during her tenure were formally referred for investigation. Tania Campbell, the former mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni, says that during her mayoralty, any allegations of wrongdoing brought to her attention were referred for investigation.

Speaking to Daily Maverick on Tuesday, Campbell said: “One of the requests for the scope of the investigation was to investigate any unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of Ekurhuleni, suppliers, providers of Ekurhuleni or any other person or entity. “The allegations aired at the Madlanga Commission have shattered public trust in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department [EMPD] and the municipality. Only decisive investigations and punitive action — including criminal charges against any official found guilty, past or present — can restore public confidence,” she said.

At the centre of a litany of allegations against the EMPD is testimony by suspended metro police chief Jabulani Isaac Mapiyeye, who told the commission that a 21 October memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the department and alleged organised-crime figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s CAT VIP Protection Services was unlawful. The MOU was signed during Campbell’s first stint as mayor before she wasousted in October 2022in a motion of no confidence proposed by ANC councillors Khehla Madlala and Dora Mlambo. Campbellwas removed from the positiona second time, in March 2023, after a motion of no confidence was tabled by the ANC, EFF and seven other small parties in the Ekurhuleni Council.

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Despite the MOU being signed during her mayoralty, Campbell said neither she nor the DA was aware of it. “No reports were served. Both Matlala and [Julius] Mkhwanazi confirmed this during their Madlanga Commission interviews,” she said.

Campbell was responding to damning allegations against the EMPD made at the Madlanga Commission. Central to this was testimony by slain whistleblower Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D, who alleged that suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi ordered officers to clean a murder scene and dispose of the body.

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