TRANSCRIPT 🔗
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Speaker 1: Right.
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Speaker 2: Let's focus our attention now on the courts out in Ikuruleni. Four people have been appearing there for much of the day. Two of them will only hear about their belt applications tomorrow. But the four people are or have been, very senior people in the City of Ikuruleni. One of them is suspended the City of b Kuruleeni Head of Legal Services Kemi Bahari. Also in the dock, City Manager Imogen Moshazi suspended senior police officer the Deputy Chief of the Kuruleni Metro Police Department, Julius Quinazi, also amongst those in the dock. So what is this case all about and how does it link to some of the other things in regard to Kudrileni that have come up both at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry but also in newspaper and other reports that have come out subsequently. Jeff Weck's investigative journalists at News twenty four was the first person to in the media to shine a very acute spotlight on in particular Brigadier Julius and Quinasi, and he joins us now, Jeff Wick's a very good afternoon too. What do you make of this case. Does this touch on the most serious allegations against these four.
00:01:16
Speaker 1: Oftenan John, thank you, Yes, certainly. This is a case which has been three years, three and a half years in the offering, and perhaps not the most serious charges that they're faced, but certainly worthy charges. We reported in February twenty twenty three that Julius and Quanasi had fraudulently issued a memorandum of understanding which gave Vusi Muzi Kat Maclala authority to fit blue lights to his security vehicles. In Quanasi is also the man who helps facilitate the registration of those security vehicles as part of empd's fleet. And what we found out today by following court proceedings was that our media inquiry when we first post questions about this is actually the genesis of this case because after that media inquiry was sent, there was an effort to discipline in Kuanazi and the state will allege that the Hari Linda Drasheko, who is the head of hr and Image and Mashazi basically colluded with one another to protect him in the quid pro quo with some very luxury salary raises for all of them. So you know, the charges are serious, they're related to fraud and corruption, but it's quite gratifying to see that our workers has brought them up to this point.
00:02:31
Speaker 2: So I mentioned that Kemi Bihari and Julius and Kunazi both getting bail of fifty thousand rand each, which is I think in the scale of things substantial. Imagen Mashazi and the other person who's appearing Linda at Asheko, who's the senior person in HR. Their bell will be heard again tomorrow pending confirmation of address details. Jeff, I mean what we've seen, for example with Julius and Quanazi is he's facing more than one charge. Do you anticipate this happening with at least some of these people as well, because you're saying these are not the most serious things they could be charged with, but they're certainly significant and as you, I think you put it worthy of the court's appearance. But are you expecting that one thing could lead to another? And if so, what well? John? This is.
00:03:25
Speaker 1: These people have been the focus of much testimony before the Midlunga Commission. I mean Julius and Quinazi is one person who faces multiple criminal charges. He's before court with Cohesol Rutler, the city manager current city manager of Eculerny for attempting to dispose of a body. He's likely to be arrested and charged relating to the precious Stones case. So you know, it appears that Eculerni was a site of extraction and the site of capture. This is just one leg in that. And you know, as you mentioned, Imogen Mahasi will be spending the night behind bar. Spare a thought for her because on Sunday we published a story which set out how she had once lived in a sixty million round mansion that was previously owned by Edwin Sodi. So there's a significant lifestyle shift in the space of only a couple of days.
00:04:18
Speaker 2: In terms then of a broader question, I suppose people have said, and I want to view Jeff that what's very different if you compare Midlanga the Midlanga Commission to the zond Or Commission is the move to act in terms of more focused investigation and in particular with a view to prosecution is really a strong feature here and the list of people who are now finding themselves facing charges is quite extensive. Do you think the difference is as marked as people are saying.
00:04:52
Speaker 1: I definitely think so. I think the major shift from the Zondor Commission up until this point is the formation of them longer commission task team that's basically doing police work in real time and acting on evidence that emerges from testimony. Before that commission, when you contrasted against the Zonder Commission, we waited for all of the recommendations that came at the very end of the process and toms of writing, then only you could investigation start. What we're seeing now is a real haste and a move to act on evidence which is brought to the fort immediately. And I think that that's part of the reason why people are buoyed by the Midlunger Commission, and everyone wants it to be extended because they can see results in real time.
00:05:35
Speaker 2: And that extension, as I mentioned earlier, has been granted. Thank you. Jeff Wixx, investigative journalists at News twenty four joining us on seven two drive. Are you u seeing the Midlunger Commission is significantly different to commissions we've seen before, Most notably, I think the fairest point of comparison is with the Zondor Commission because it traverses and covers the same areas of our national life. But your views on that oh seven two seven oh two one seven o two twenty two minutes past four