Ekurhuleni hunts whistleblower to protect top cop, Madlanga Commission told
Former EMPD deputy chief, Revo Spies, said it was nonsensical for the City of Ekurhuleni, to hire a forensic firm to investigate a whistleblower who exposed Brig. Julius Mkhwanazi’s rot in the department.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela/IOL News
The City of Ekurhuleni has turned justice on its head by hiring a forensic firm to hunt down a whistleblower, who exposed the rot of the suspended metro police acting chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, instead of probing serious allegations his misconduct and rogue actions.
Former Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Revo Spies made the revelation on Tuesday before the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria, describing the city’s actions as “absolutely nonsensical” and proof of a concerted effort to protect Mkhwanazi “at all costs.”
According to Spies, councillors had repeatedly questioned officials about the outcome of investigations into Mkhwanazi, who was already facing allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
But instead of probing those claims, the city manager, legal department, and human resources told council that a forensic firm had been appointed “to investigate the matter.”
When the report finally surfaced, Spies said, it became clear that the forensic firm’s actual mandate was not to investigate Mkhwanazi, but to unmask the whistleblower who had exposed his alleged misconduct — including the leak of his employee pay number.
“The firm’s report even stated that they had back-end access to our official emails,” Spies testified.
“After going through our accounts, they admitted they found no link between any Ekurhuleni official and the leaked information.
Yet they still recommended that Mkhwanazi lodge complaints against his seniors for releasing his pay number — even though they found no evidence of it. It’s nonsensical.”
Spies said the city’s approach laid bare a deep-rooted culture of protectionism and retaliation against whistleblowers within the municipality.
“It shows just how far the city was prepared to go to shield Mkhwanazi — even appointing a forensic firm under a false mandate,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, IOL reported that the city had officially suspended Mkhwanazi following allegations before the Madlanga Commission.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
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