IOL NEWS

Commissioner Madlanga alleges Ekurhuleni's legal head Kemi Behari's actions "tie in" with complaints he was protecting Brigadier Mkhwanazi. He states Behari ignored the mandate to discipline but tried to "stop" the criminal process he couldn't control. #MadlangaCommission

Commissioner Baloi questions Ekurhuleni legal head Kemi Behari on his response to an IPID report. While IPID's sole instruction was to institute disciplinary action, Behari testifies the city manager directed him to draft a response questioning IPID's "technical issues." #MadlangaCommission

Ekurhuleni's Head of Legal & Risk, Kemi Behari, testifies he had "no knowledge" that Chief Mapieye withdrew the internal investigation into Brigadier Mkwanazi. He is unsure when he learned of it, despite being a named addressee on the withdrawal letter. #MadlangaCommission

EPMD's legal head Kemi Behari testifies he had "no knowledge" the internal investigation into Brig. Mkhwanazi was withdrawn by the Chief of Police. He is unsure when he learned about it, despite being a key addressee on the withdrawal letter. #MadlangaCommission

Commissioner Baloi challenges Ekurhuleni's legal head Kemi Behari over his timeline. Behari claimed he couldn't review a dossier as agreed on 22 June because he was "out of the office." The commissioner states he "must have thought" he could do it that day. #MadlangaCommission

Evidence Leader Seegels-Ncube, challenges Ekurhuleni's legal head Kemi Behari over his inaction. Despite a chief's urgent letter setting a 24-hour deadline for a crucial legal review, Behari admits he never received the dossier and "did not follow up" to request it. #MadlangaCommission

Commissioner Khumalo confronts Ekurhuleni's legal head Kemi Behari about an anonymous email alleging a cover-up for Brigadier Mkhwanazi. The commissioner states that instead of acting on the serious allegation, Behari "go[es] after the people who wrote the email." #MadlangaCommission

Commissioner Baloi questions Ekurhuleni's legal head Kemi Behari. Despite a new directive in Aug 2023, Behari never followed up on why a brigadier "facing serious allegations" was back at work after his advice halted the case in May. #MadlangaCommission

Ekurhuleni's legal head Kemi Behari testifies that while "happy" to charge the brigadier, he believed the case was "much more serious" and asked, "Mkwanazi, but what else?" This suggests a broader inquiry may have stalled the immediate case. #MadlangaCommission

Commissioner states that Ekurhuleni's legal head, Kemi Behari, advised the city manager that "the city does not have a case." The commissioner notes the city manager then went on TV stating she was "acting on your advice." #MadlangaCommission

Under cross-examination, Kemi Behari is asked why he briefed the city manager on a brigadier's suspension extension—a process he admits the city manager "has no involvement" in. Behari insists the "issue was greater." #MadlangaCommission

Ekurhuleni's legal head Kemi Behari reads a colleague's statement detailing political interference. After aggressive calls from Dr. Mashazi, the HR head reversed course at midnight, ordering a resumption letter so the brigadier could return to work. #MadlangaCommission

Commissioner Baloi concludes that Ekurhuleni's legal head, Kemi Behari, failed to properly assess the case. She states the success of the charges did NOT depend on the witness statements Behari claimed were essential, undermining his entire legal advice. #MadlangaCommission

Comm. Baloi challenges Ekurhuleni's Head of Legal, Kemi Behari, stating it would be "even more concerning" if he gave advice on a disciplinary case's prospects without the charge sheet in front of him. #MadlangaCommission

Ekurhuleni's legal head Kemi Behari is confronted over his advice that a case was unsustainable. He admits he knows "nothing" about a key charge (allowing illicit police duties) but had still declared the overall case at risk due to witness gaps. #MadlangaCommission