Behari claims pressured into settling cases of two suspended Ekurhuleni senior officials

Ekurhuleni’s suspended head of legal, Kemi Behari, has accused the metro’s current city manager, Kagiso Lerutla, of pressuring him to settle the cases of two senior officials who were suspended for wrongdoing.

He claims Lerutla was under pressure from the African National Congress (ANC) in the region.

Behari testified on Monday at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

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In September 2023, Ekurhuleni’s head of human resources was suspended for allegedly having fraudulent qualifications.

The Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD)'s chief, Jabulani Mapiyeye, was also suspended following sexual assault allegations.

Testifying before the Madlanga Commission, Behari said he faced pressure to reach a settlement with the two men that would’ve seen them return to work.

“I was brought under enormous pressure by the current city manager, Mr Kagiso Lerutlo, who was the CFO at the time, to settle. Lerutlo and Dr Kupeni were vying for the city manager positions.

“I was asked, because of certain agreements reached at the regional conference of the ANC, that their agreement reached that you must settle Nciza and chief of police. So, at this stage, I resisted.”

Behari’s testimony continues on Tuesday.