Former Ekurhuleni city manager Dr Imogen Mashazi testifying at the Madlanga Commission.

• The Madlanga Commission continued on Tuesday morning, with retired Ekhuruleni city manager Dr Imogen Mashazi still on the stand.
• Mashazi has been accused of actively shielding the EMPD’s Julius Mkhwanazi from disciplinary action over the blue lights scandal.
• On Tuesday, she was accused of having “used” a junior official’s alleged sexual harassment at the hands of suspended EMPD chief Isaac Mapiyeye, for her “own purposes”. 

Retired Ekurhuleni city manager Dr Imogen Mashazi has been accused of having “used” a junior Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) official’s alleged sexual harassment at the hands of suspended EMPD chief Isaac Mapiyeye for her “own purposes” at the Madlanga Commission.

“You used a junior’s misfortune for your own purposes before this commission. It’s sad enough, I don’t want to engage on it, and I think as we leave here today [Tuesday], you should really go reflect and engage with this poor lady and stop attempting to use her,” evidence leader advocate Mahlape Sello SC charged on Tuesday, as Mashazi continued her evidence.

Mapiyeye was suspended amid the allegations in November of last year.

He, however, maintained that they were “bogus” and “trumped up,” and, effectively, that he was targeted because of his attempts to discipline his deputy, Julius Mkhwanazi, who allegedly arranged for illegal blue lights to be fitted in the controversy-addled Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala’s vehicles.

In her evidence, Mashazi – who has been accused of actively shielding Mkhwanazi – relied heavily on the allegations against Mapiyeye, repeatedly referring to the fact that he was accused of raping the complainant.

On Tuesday, Sello, however, revealed that 11 of the 12 charges that were originally proffered against him had since been withdrawn and that the sole remaining charge did not involve rape.

She put it to Mashazi, whose response was simply that the complainant should be called to testify:

This, however, clearly did not satisfy Sello, who told Mashazi: “You brought up these issues … for your own ulterior purposes, and when you’re confronted with them, and you’re asked to clarify, then your response is that the victim must come. This commission is not interested in subjecting victims to secondary abuse, which appears to be a solution to the problem as far as you are concerned.”

She insisted that Mashazi should have applied better judgement before making the accusations in question and that it was “highly irresponsible”.

In response to Mashazi’s contention that it was “unfair” that she could not call her own witnesses, Sello told her she misunderstood the commission’s rules.

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“Clearly you understood it to mean you will throw mud at everyone, and if it doesn’t stick, you will drag some witness out of her home to present them before this commission so that your personal objectives are met,” Sello charged, adding the issue had “nothing to do” with Mashazi’s defence.

Mashazi found herself on the receiving end of comments from commissioner advocate Sesi Baloyi SC, who questioned how seriously she was taking the proceedings on Tuesday.

This after she told the commission she did “not recall” whether she took any steps to reverse 55 appointments Mkhwanazi made, despite having conceded that they were not above board.

Mapiyeye had testified that Mkhwanazi “made 55 appointments or promotions without [his] involvement” during an acting stint.

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“Most of these candidates did not satisfy the requirements of the respective advertised posts. In some instances, the posts some were appointed to – they were never advertised,” Mapiyeye said, adding that a number of those appointed were also members of Mkhwanazi’s team.

“I do have a problem when you say I don’t recall, and you’re prepared to say that and leave it at that. I think that is a problem. It raises issues for me, at least, about whether you are taking this process seriously. Did you come here to assist the commission? And answers like ‘I don’t recall’ on such an important issue, where you had the opportunity to refresh your memory… It suggests that you may not be taking this process seriously,” Baloyi remarked.

“No comment,” came Mashazi’s response.