Kemi Behari and Julius Mkhwanazi granted R50,000 bail as Mashazi and Gxasheka await bail hearing

All four suspects arrested in connection with the alleged Ekurhuleni Metro blue lights fraud and corruption case will spend the night in police cells despite two of them being granted bail.

Suspended Ekurhuleni Legal Risk Services Head Kemi Behari and suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Acting Chief Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi were each granted bail of R50,000 by the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

However, because the court proceedings ended after the court's payments office had closed, the pair were unable to pay bail and secure their release. As a result, they will remain in custody overnight and are expected to be released once the bail payment is processed on Friday.

Retired Ekurhuleni City Manager Imogen Mashazi and suspended Ekurhuleni Human Resources Head Linda Gxasheka will also remain behind bars after their bail applications were postponed.

The State requested additional time to verify the residential addresses of the two accused before the court could determine their bail applications. They are expected to return to the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Friday, 10 July 2026, when the matter resumes.

The four suspects were arrested on Wednesday by the Commission Recommendations Task Team in connection with allegations that crime-accused businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's private security vehicles were unlawfully registered as official Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department vehicles and fitted with blue lights.

Police allege the vehicles remained in Matlala's possession and were used privately while appearing to be official law enforcement vehicles. The investigation also focuses on allegations that senior municipal officials attempted to conceal the irregularities and interfere with disciplinary and criminal processes.

The matter will continue in the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Friday.