Former Ekurhuleni City Manager Dr Imogen Mashazi Found Guilty of Improper Conduct
The net is closing in on the former City of Ekurhuleni City Manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi, after being found guilty of improper conduct.
Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka has found Mashazi guilty of improper conduct. The adverse finding follows an official investigation into the unlawful 2022 appointment of an unqualified Metro Police Chief.
The damning conclusion was made public on Thursday afternoon during a briefing where Gcaleka released a comprehensive series of investigative reports.
The probe centred on the appointment of Ndumiso Gcwabe to the position of Deputy Chief of Metro Police: Security and Loss Control. The Public Protector’s office initiated the investigation in August 2023 following a formal complaint lodged by Vukile Mlungwana, representing the Municipal Employees and Civil Servants Union (MECSU). MECSU alleged that Gcwabe did not meet the mandatory criteria necessary to hold the high-ranking office.
Investigators established that the minimum requirement for the role was an NQF level 7 qualification, specifically a relevant bachelor’s degree. Gcwabe did not possess this. According to the report, his highest academic qualification at the time of his application was a National Diploma in Policing (an NQF level 6) supplemented only by various short-course certificates in crime prevention.
Despite Gcwabe clearly lacking the requisite qualifications, Mashazi used her authority as the Accounting Officer of the municipality to push the appointment through.
“As a result, we find that Mr Gcwabe did not qualify for the position of Deputy Chief of Metro Police,” stated Advocate Gcaleka. “In the circumstances, we further find that the conduct of the former City Manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi as Accounting Officer of CoE at the time of appointment of Mr Gcwabe constitutes improper conduct.”
Because Mashazi is no longer in office, the Public Protector noted that direct administrative remedial actions cannot be enforced against her. However, Gcaleka has officially recommended that Gcwabe’s irregular appointment be taken on a full judicial review to be set aside.
This f