The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the City of Ekurhuleni rejects the hypocrisy and false sense of concern portrayed by Executive Mayor, Ald. Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, relating to the systemic rot in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) because of damning testimonies made at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Through numerous knee-jerk media stunts, Mayor Xhakaza has attempted to paint his ANC-EFF-ActionSA coalition as the heroes who will claw the City back from the clutches of corrupt individuals who have infiltrated the administration.
What the Mayor has omitted from the media is that his party, the ANC, is at the very heart of all malfeasance, corruption and wrongdoing in the City.
During the tenure of his ANC predecessor, Ald. Mzwandile Masina, the contracts for the infamous CAT-VIP blue light scandal were facilitated by now suspended Deputy Police Commissioner, Julius Mkhwanazi.
The DA has repeatedly raised concerns over the EMPD – highlighting much of what has been brought into the public eye through the Madlanga Commission, notably:
- The illegal CAT VIP blue-light matter
- The implementation of the Independent Police Investigative Department (IPID) report recommendations relating to criminal activities by EMPD Deputy Chief of Police, Julius Mkhwanazi.
- Rogue criminal EMPD syndicates
- The implementation of criminal vetting of EMPD personnel.
Despite numerous calls for thorough investigations to be done and for reports to be tabled for Council action to be taken, the ANC and its coalition partners in council have repeatedly refused or stalled the tabling of any such reports and have wilfully protected criminals within the City from any form of scrutiny.
Many of these matters would have now resulted in criminal proceedings had the ANC-EFF-ActionSA coalition put transparency and the rule of law ahead of their own self-serving interests.
The DA will monitor the investigative processes outlined by Mayor Xhakaza to ensure that, unlike all other so-called “investigations”, Council is timeously appraised of all developments and consequences are meted out so that those found to be in the wrong are brought to book.