The criminal case involving expelled Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and three former senior municipal officials has been postponed to 25 February 2027, with the defence now preparing to study the State’s case and decide on its next steps.

CRIME CONNECT | COURT REPORT

The case involving Julius Mkhwanazi, former Ekurhuleni City Manager Imogen Mashazi, former head of legal services Kemi Behari and former human resources head Linda Gxasheka returned to the Germiston Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 13 November 2026.

The four accused made a brief appearance before the matter was postponed to 25 February 2027.

The latest postponement follows confirmation from the defence teams that they have received full disclosure of the case docket from the State. The lawyers will now have time to consult with their clients, examine the evidence and obtain instructions on how they intend to approach the proceedings.

The matter is expected to be transferred to the Regional Court at the next appearance.

THE ALLEGATIONS: WHO WAS ACCUSED OF PROTECTING MKHWANAZI?

The case centres on allegations that Mashazi, Behari and Gxasheka shielded Mkhwanazi from accountability over the controversial blue-light saga involving vehicles linked to alleged crime figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

At the heart of the controversy are claims that Mkhwanazi facilitated the installation of blue lights on vehicles belonging to Matlala through a memorandum of agreement that was allegedly fraudulent.

The allegations have raised serious questions about how private vehicles connected to Matlala were able to obtain police-style equipment and what role senior municipal officials may have played in the process.

The State’s case against the three former municipal officials concerns their alleged role in protecting Mkhwanazi from disciplinary accountability. They have not been convicted, and the allegations will have to be tested in court.

WHY THE CASE HAS BEEN POSTPONED

Friday’s appearance was brief, with the defence confirming that the full docket had been received.

The next phase will allow the legal teams to go through the material provided by the prosecution and consult with each accused. These consultations are an important part of preparing a defence and determining how the case will proceed.

The matter is now scheduled to return on 25 February 2027, when the court is expected to consider its transfer to the Regional Court.

The postponement does not amount to a finding on the allegations. No verdict has been reached, and the accused remain entitled to the presumption of innocence.

THE CAT MATLALA CONNECTION

The blue-light allegations form part of a wider series of questions surrounding the relationship between Matlala and individuals within law enforcement and the Ekurhuleni municipality.

The alleged arrangement involving Matlala’s vehicles has attracted attention because of the implications of private vehicles being fitted with blue lights under an agreement said to involve the EMPD.

The case also places the conduct of senior municipal officials under scrutiny. The central issue for the court will be whether the State can prove that the accused acted unlawfully and that their actions amounted to the offences with which they are charged.

The allegations have featured prominently in wider public discussions about accountability, municipal governance and the relationship between powerful private individuals and law enforcement structures.

FEBRUARY 2027: THE NEXT IMPORTANT DATE

With the docket now disclosed to the defence, the case moves into another stage of preparation. The February appearance could be significant as the parties deal with the next procedural steps and the anticipated transfer to the Regional Court.

For residents following the Ekurhuleni corruption allegations, the case remains one to watch. It raises questions not only about the alleged blue-light arrangement, but also about whether senior officials properly exercised their responsibilities when concerns about Mkhwanazi were raised.

The court proceedings will ultimately determine whether the State can substantiate its allegations against the four accused.

For now, the matter has been postponed, the defence teams have received the docket, and all eyes will be on Germiston when the accused return to court on 25 February 2027.

CRIME CONNECT will continue following the case as the proceedings develop.

LEGAL NOTE: The individuals named in this report are accused persons. The allegations have not been proven in court, and all accused are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty.