Former Ekurhuleni officials Mashazi and Gxasheka back in court for bail after second night in custody

Former Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi and suspended human resources head Linda Gxasheka will apply for bail at the Germiston Magistrate’s Court after spending a second night in custody on corruption-related charges.

Who is charged and when they were arrested

The two were arrested on Wednesday alongside suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and suspended head of legal services Kemi Behari. The four appeared in Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

Bail outcomes and reasons for delays

The state did not oppose bail for Mkhwanazi and Behari, who were granted bail of R50,000 each. Mashazi and Gxasheka remained in custody after the court postponed their bail applications to Friday because the state raised concerns about their residential addresses.

The state told the court investigators had identified several properties linked to Mashazi, including homes in Meyersdal, Bedfordview, Waterfall, Sunward Park, a Brakpan estate and Mpumalanga. Gxasheka was linked to multiple properties, including two in Gauteng and one in the Eastern Cape, with only one address verified.

Mashazi’s lawyer, Johan Eksteen, disputed the property’s list, saying several of the listed properties did not belong to his client. Gxasheka’s lawyer told the court delaying proceedings would be unfair because she was the mother of a four-year-old child. The magistrate said factors, including the interests of minor children, would be considered before deciding on bail.

Allegations linked to the ‘blue lights’ saga

The matter stems from what the state calls the “blue lights” saga. The state alleged Mashazi and other senior City of Ekurhuleni officials shielded Mkhwanazi from disciplinary action after he allegedly fitted police blue lights to private luxury vehicles owned by businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

The state further alleged Mashazi, Behari and Gxasheka acted with a common purpose to protect Mkhwanazi, and that Behari and Gxasheka received salary increases the council never approved in return. The municipality allegedly paid Behari and Gxasheka a combined R2.66m in unlawful salary increases between the 2023/24 and 2025/26 financial years.

According to the state, the increases were unlawful because council approval was required, the two officials were still on probation and established municipal procedures had been bypassed.

Responses from the accused

Mashazi has previously denied wrongdoing. While testifying before the Madlanga Commission in December last year she said,

“I was far from this process.”

Behari has denied the allegations, saying claims that he accepted a bribe were “false and without foundation.”

Conditions of bail for those released

Mkhwanazi and Behari’s bail came with conditions that included surrendering their travel documents and reporting to the Brooklyn police station every Friday until the matter is concluded.