26/09/2025
Ekurhuleni Council Rejects Bid to Suspend Mkhwanazi Over Underworld Allegations
South Africa Daily, Ekurhuleni, 26 September 2025
The Ekurhuleni council on Thursday rejected a motion to suspend senior metro police official Mkhwanazi, who faces allegations of links to suspected underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Mkhwanazi is accused of unlawfully providing police blue lights to Matlala, who allegedly fitted them onto his private vehicles.
Although the council declined to suspend him, Mkhwanazi applied for special leave, which the city approved.
The African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), ActionSA, and African Independent Congress (AIC) voted against the motion, arguing that the authority to discipline or suspend a senior EMPD official rests with the city manager rather than the council.
Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA) chairperson Izak Berg, who introduced the motion, criticised parties for passing responsibility onto administrators.
“Political parties must act rather than wait for the city’s officials to make the call,” Berg said.
The decision has intensified debate over accountability and alleged underworld influence within Ekurhuleni’s law enforcement ranks.