By Johnathan Paoli
Former Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi and suspended Head of Human Resources, Linda Gxasheka, were granted bail of R50,000 each, in the recent corruption related case, following the verification of their residential addresses.
Presiding over the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Friday, Magistrate Trevor Klassen postponed the matter to 28 August for further investigation, with the state and defence also expected to discuss the possible transfer of the case.
The ruling concludes the bail applications of all four accused in the matter after suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and suspended Legal Services head Kemi Behari were each granted R50,000 bail on Thursday.
The four are facing multiple counts of corruption under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, as well as charges of fraud and defeating or obstructing the administration of justice.
According to the charge sheet, the State alleges Behari and Gxasheka each unlawfully benefited from salary increases amounting to approximately R1.3 million between 2023 and 2026, while Mkhwanazi allegedly received an irregular salary adjustment worth about R1.7 million following his appointment as deputy chief of the EMPD.
The prosecution further alleged that Mashazi, Behari and Gxasheka acted together to frustrate disciplinary proceedings against Mkhwanazi following allegations relating to the registration of vehicles supplied by CAT VIP Protection, a company linked to controversial businessman and attempted murder accused Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.
Friday’s proceedings followed Thursday’s postponement after prosecutors requested additional time to verify the residential addresses of Mashazi and Gxasheka.
The state had previously informed the court that Mashazi was linked to more than seven addresses, while two addresses associated with Gxasheka also required verification before their bail applications could be finalised.
On Friday, the prosecution confirmed that the address verification process had been completed and informed the court that it was no longer opposing the release of either accused.
However, it maintained that strict bail conditions should be imposed and argued that each applicant should pay R100,000 bail because of the seriousness of the charges and their former senior positions within the municipality.
Mashazi initially proposed bail of R20,000 in an affidavit, while her legal representative later submitted that R10,000 would be an appropriate amount.
Gxasheka, meanwhile, asked the court to set bail at R20,000, saying that was the maximum she could afford.
In her affidavit, Gxasheka told the court she had been employed as a head of department at the metro since 2025 and, although currently suspended, continued residing at her Bedfordview home.
She said she had no previous convictions, no pending criminal matters and no outstanding warrants, adding that she possessed only an official South African passport that remained in the custody of the municipality.
Arguing on the former city manager’s behalf, advocate Johan Eksteen said Mashazi had consistently cooperated with investigators and had never attempted to evade prosecution.
“She has not tried to evade when this matter was get known to her. She went to the Madlanga Commission. She knew immediately after the Madlanga Commission that these cases will be coming towards her. So she did not run away,” he said.
Eksteen added that Mashazi was committed to clearing her name.
He questioned some of the addresses previously relied upon by investigators, including one in Mpumalanga, arguing that her long-standing Bedfordview residence demonstrated that she was not a flight risk.
Representing Gxasheka, advocate Emma Magula argued that the state itself had accepted her client posed no risk of absconding.
“The State put it on record that accused number three, my client, is not a flight risk. And the purpose of bail is to ensure that the accused comes back and attends trial,” she said.
In delivering judgment, Klassen said the court had considered the relevant provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act, the affidavits before it and submissions made by both parties.
Klassen granted Mashazi and Gxasheka bail of R50,000 each and ordered them to surrender any travel documents, refrain from leaving South Africa without written permission from the investigating officer, avoid contact with State witnesses attached to the municipality’s finance and human resources departments, report to their designated police stations every Friday from 17 July until the matter is finalised, and notify investigators of any change of address.
The Ekurhuleni Four are expected to return to court late next month.
