Ekurhuleni Mayor launches EMPD festive safety campaign and unveils 68 new patrol vehicles

The Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni Ald Nkosindiphile Xhakazarecently launched the EMPD Festive Season Campaign on Zuurfontein Road, Chloorkop.

The MMC for Community Safety Sizakele Masuku, senior EMPD officials, Sebenza SAPS, and CPF representatives also attended the event.

As part of the launch, the EMPD unveiled a new fleet of 68 vehicles to bolster crime prevention and boost service delivery across the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE).

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Xhakaza said the campaign highlighted the city’s commitment to improving community safety during the festive season through increased law-enforcement visibility, targeted crime-prevention initiatives, and strengthened road-safety operations.

He said the expanded fleet would enhance the EMPD’s rapid-response capacity, ensuring officers are better equipped to serve and protect during the busy holiday period.

Masuku urged motorists to prioritise road safety throughout the year.

“We want to say to motorists: safe travels, drive safely, and abide by the laws of the road, not only because it is the festive season but always. There are always roadblocks and campaigns like this,” she said.

Masuku said visibility remained a key focus for the department, adding that Ekurhuleni motorists must: ‘know the EMPD is on every corner’.

She also cautioned officers against the misuse of the new vehicles, emphasising they were essential tools for improving response times and public safety.

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During the launch, Xhakaza reiterated the city’s commitment to restoring confidence in law enforcement through strengthened, multi-disciplinary operations.

“With multiple agencies present, we are demonstrating our determination to combat lawlessness,” he said.

He urged motorists to ensure their vehicles were roadworthy and to avoid dangerous behaviour such as drinking and texting while driving.

“Before you leave home, make sure you have your licence and that your car is roadworthy. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t text and drive. These behaviours compromise not only your safety but that of other motorists.”

Responding to questions about the ongoing Madlanga Commission, which is probing allegations of corruption and irregularities within the EMPD, Xhakaza expressed disappointment at the negative publicity surrounding the department.

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“I’m not proud that our EMPD is on the news for all the wrong reasons,” he said.

He confirmed that the city was supporting the commission and had incorporated its concerns into the scope of an internal investigation.

“Ekurhuleni is no home for criminality or wrong elements,” Xhakaza said, adding that the city’s renewal programme aimed to clean up all departments and strengthen consequence management.

Addressing criticism about the delayed suspension of Brigadier Makwanazi, Xhakaza referred to repeated changes in political leadership.

“This is not an excuse, but there have been various leadership changes in the council. As the third mayor, I acted as soon as we had enough information brought to council,” he said.

He added that a previous suspension had been abandoned prematurely, requiring reliance on internal forensic findings before taking action.

Xhakaza also confirmed that more than 200 EMPD members who are facing criminal charges are subject to a comprehensive review.

He said some cases stem from historical political conflicts before integration and demilitarisation, but emphasised the need to remove wrong elements from the system.

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Both the suspended acting chief of police and several officials are currently under investigation by law enforcement agencies.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has handed key evidence to the city’s disciplinary committee to ensure due process.

A forensic internal audit report commissioned by the city has already produced damning findings, prompting the suspension of the acting chief and others accused of deliberate or negligent wrongdoing.

“The report is complete and is being processed as we speak. It will serve before the council, and be implemented fully without fear or favour,” Xhakaza said.

Xhakaza reiterated that the city’s renewal programme involves enforcing accountability across all departments.

“When we were elected, we promised renewal, and that message had to translate into administration,” he said.

“We’ve unleashed consequence management without fear or favour, from top to bottom.”

He added that the newly appointed city manager had ‘hit the ground running’, recognising that accountability rests with both political and administrative leadership.

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However, he acknowledged that disciplinary processes within municipalities can be slow and legally complex.

“To enforce consequences in a municipality, there are many legislative processes you must follow. If you don’t, you risk jeopardising the cases,” he said.

The mayor called on communities and the media to continue exercising oversight.

“Oversight is important. Communities must ask questions, and the media must keep us in check,” he said.