Suspended Ekurhuleni legal head denies R600,000 salary hike was a bribe

Suspended Ekurhuleni head of the legal unit, advocate Kemi Behari, says he was shocked to learn he received a R600,000 salary increase as a bribe. A previous witness told the Madlanga commission of inquiry that after Behari and suspended head of human resources Linda Gxasheka stopped investigations againstsuspended Ekurhuleni metro police department deputy chiefJulius Mkhwanazithey were rewarded withR600,000 salary increases. “It was shocking to hear I have received a R600,000 bribe, but I will deal with the matter,” said Behari, who later vehemently denied receiving the increase as a loyalist.

It is alleged Behari and Gxasheka worked with former municipal manager Imogen Mashazi to ensure Mkhwanazi was exonerated over allegations about fitting blue lights to a fleet belonging to Vusi “Cat” Matlala’s security company. “I have never been involved in any disciplinary process for any staff,” he said. Behari told the commission he had no dealings withMarius “Vlam” van der Merwe, known as Witness D, who previously implicated Mkhwanazi and other Ekurhuleni police officers in the cover-up of Emmanuel Mbhense’s killing four years ago.

“I have looked at the entire record and could not find any reference in relation to me. I have never had any dealings with Witness D. May his soul rest in peace.”