Ekurhuleni Mayor Doctor Xhakaza has distanced himself and the African National Congress (ANC) from the growing corruption scandal linked to alleged kingpin Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, whose influence over the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) has raised serious concerns about governance and oversight within the city.
Speaking to Eyewitness News (EWN), Xhakaza insisted that the Democratic Alliance (DA), which previously governed Ekurhuleni, must account for how Matlala allegedly infiltrated the municipality’s police structures and maintained connections with high-ranking officials, including EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi.
“We should not forget to tell our people that, by the way, it was the DA that was in power and at the helm of leadership in Ekurhuleni when some of these things happened,” said Xhakaza, shifting the focus onto former mayor Tania Campbell and her administration.
Xhakaza Points to Failures in DA Oversight
The controversy surrounding Matlala first emerged more than a year ago when it was discovered that his vehicles were illegally equipped with blue lights, allegedly supplied by EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi. These unauthorized privileges were reportedly part of a broader pattern of “undue favours” granted to Matlala.
Mkhwanazi was recently implicated in testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where allegations of his close relationship with Matlala surfaced. The inquiry has raised alarm about possible criminal infiltration into law enforcement institutions.
According to Xhakaza, the roots of this alleged infiltration trace back to a period when the DA held the reins of the city. He emphasized that oversight failures under the DA allowed Matlala to thrive within municipal systems.
“The DA must account for why its oversight mechanisms failed to detect and address Matlala’s links to senior EMPD officials,” Xhakaza said.
He also made it clear that while administrative processes are handled by appointed officials, politicians like himself play a different role—one of oversight, not operations.
“We don’t want the administrative accountability of the deputy chief of police to be mixed with political things. Politicians do oversight, and the administrative officials deal with administrative processes,” Xhakaza clarified.
In response, the Democratic Alliance has refuted the allegations made by Xhakaza, insisting that it had, in fact, acted swiftly and responsibly upon learning about Matlala’s alleged influence within the EMPD.
DA officials claim they alerted the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and other relevant bodies when suspicions first arose. They argue that the ANC-led administration should now be focusing on prosecuting wrongdoing, rather than passing the buck.
“Instead of pointing fingers, the mayor should be taking decisive action to root out corruption in his current administration,” a DA spokesperson stated.
The opposition has also questioned why Mkhwanazi remains in his position despite multiple allegations, suggesting that Xhakaza’s administration is dragging its feet on accountability.
Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala is alleged to be a powerful underworld figure with deep connections inside Ekurhuleni’s law enforcement structures. According to reports and testimony heard at the Madlanga Commission, Matlala allegedly used these connections to secure unlawful benefits, including police escorts and immunity from traffic regulations via illegally installed blue lights.
The nature and extent of his relationship with senior EMPD officials remain under investigation, but early findings suggest a systemic breach of ethics within Ekurhuleni’s security apparatus.
Despite his efforts to shift blame, Xhakaza faces mounting pressure to clean up the city’s administration. Civil society groups and opposition parties are calling for immediate suspensions and criminal investigations into those implicated in the scandal, regardless of when the infractions began.
Legal experts have warned that deflecting blame does little to inspire confidence in the current leadership, especially as trust in local governance continues to erode in Ekurhuleni.
The mayor, however, remains firm in his stance that the rot began under DA governance, reiterating that his focus is on restoring integrity and ensuring transparent accountability processes are followed.
As the scandal continues to unfold, all eyes are now on Mayor Xhakaza and his response in the coming weeks. With growing public outrage and continued revelations at the Madlanga Commission, the need for decisive leadership is critical.
Whether or not Xhakaza can rise above political finger-pointing and demonstrate real accountability remains to be seen. What’s certain is that the people of Ekurhuleni are demanding answers—and swift action—before more damage is done.
Source- EWN
