Ekurhuleni vets EMPD and suspends senior bosses to fight corruption

The CoE embarked on an institutional cleansing, introducing comprehensive vetting for EMPD officers and suspending senior officials implicated in governance and disciplinary matters.

The measures come at a time when public confidence in municipal law enforcement and the city administration has eroded, with residents increasingly questioning the integrity and accountability of those entrusted to serve and protect.

At the centre of the renewal drive is the annual vetting of EMPD officers, which started on February 16 at the Internal Audit Department in Alberton.

ALSO READ: City of Ekurhuleni to remove illegal billboard at Gillooly’s Farm

The vetting includes biometric fingerprint scanning and criminal record checks to ensure officers meet the ethical and professional standards required.

City Manager Kagiso Lerutla and departmental heads visited the EMPD offices last Monday to oversee implementation of the vetting system.

The initiative will be rolled out in phases to avoid disrupting essential policing services while reinforcing internal accountability.

Police vetting systems are regarded as a critical safeguard in maintaining public trust, ensuring officers with criminal records or questionable conduct are identified and subjected to appropriate disciplinary or human resource processes.

ALSO READ: City of Ekurhuleni updates residents on waste collection and landfill operations

Lerutla emphasised that any officer found to have a criminal record would face the necessary internal procedures in line with municipal policies and labour legislation.

The process is expected to take two months, after which a detailed report will be presented to Mayor Alderman Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, who said the vetting is part of a broader campaign by the city to professionalise the EMPD, root out corruption and restore public confidence.

The cleansing efforts extend beyond the EMPD. Xhakaza confirmed the suspension of senior officials, including the HoD for Legal Services and Risk, Advocate Kemi Behari, and the head of HR, Linda Qxasheka. Both have been served with charge sheets and will appear before the city’s disciplinary committee.

Deputy chief of police Julius Mkhwanazi will face further disciplinary action, having been served with an additional charge sheet.

”These measures signal the administration’s intent to enforce consequence management at the highest levels,” said Xhakaza.

The city also welcomed a recent court ruling involving suspended chief information officer Moloko Monyepao, whose attempt to halt internal disciplinary proceedings through the courts was dismissed with costs.

The ruling marked the fourth unsuccessful legal challenge by Monyepao against the city’s disciplinary processes, reinforcing the administration’s authority to proceed with internal accountability measures.

ALSO READ: City of Ekurhuleni denies water poisoning claims

Xhakaza described the disciplinary actions and vetting as essential to restoring institutional integrity and rebuilding public confidence.

“The people of Ekurhuleni deserve a city that functions effectively, is properly administered, and is guided by ethical leadership at all levels.

“These actions are necessary to reinforce consequence management, ensure organisational stability and implement corrective measures where required,” said Xhakaza.

The renewal agenda follows years of political instability and governance challenges, particularly during the 2021 to 2024 coalition administration, which saw declining municipal revenue, weakened oversight systems and deteriorating service delivery, which the mayor refers to as barren years.

While the mayor maintains that the vetting and suspensions demonstrate their commitment to ethical leadership and transparency, the benefits are yet to be seen.