How Cat Matlala blue light investigation placed former EMPD employee's life at risk | The Citizen

Kelebogile Thepa, who used to be a media officer at the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD), shared a distressing account before the Madlanga commission on how a media probe into the so-called blue light scandal seriously threatened her career and even her safety. She described the moment when she received a media inquiry on February 2, 2023, about a questionable memorandum of understanding (MOU) between EMPD and a private security company linked to Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala. This MOU, signed by the suspended EMPD deputy commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi, suggested an ongoing partnership to provide VIP protection services using vehicles allegedly equipped with illegal blue lights. Upon getting the inquiry, Thepa forwarded it to Retired EMPD deputy chief Revo Spies, noting how suspicious the document looked, especially since it was drafted on official EMPD letterhead but seemed dodgy. Spies later responded that the letter appeared illegal and started verifying the details, prompting an urgent internal probe. Thepa was told not to disclose the letter's questionable legality in her reply to the media, to allow the department to investigate without any evidence being tampered with. The scandal exploded in the media by early March, leading to many follow-up questions about the ongoing investigations and disciplinary actions against Mkhwanazi. Thepa took charge of the complex media handling but ran into resistance from the city manager’s office, who told her to back off. Despite their efforts, the story kept gaining momentum, especially when Mkhwanazi was suspended and then reinstated, which only fueled public suspicion. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) later reached out to Thepa, seeking her help with their investigation. Although the Ipid official assured her the case would be thoroughly pursued, Thepa sensed a lack of genuine commitment and even felt endangered by the request for information, fearing some members within Ipid were compromised. She soon discovered that Mkhwanazi had labeled her a “dirty cop” to the investigating officials, clearly attempting to discredit her for cooperating and being transparent with the media. The danger became real in July 2023 when Thepa was attacked in Thembisa. While returning from visiting her late mother's grave, three men forcibly stopped her car. One threatened her with a gun at the driver’s seat, while another held a sharp object — which turned out to be a gun — to her neck. They forcibly moved her and her neighbor into the back seats and drove off in the car, demanding her phone and wallet. Thepa recalled how surreal the moment felt, especially given her experience with firearms, and was struck by the attackers’ focus on work-related questions, suggesting a targeted motive. This ordeal exposed the grim reality of the risks whistleblowers and honest officials face when confronting corruption and abuse of power within law enforcement agencies. Despite the trauma, Thepa’s courage in speaking out highlights the urgent need for transparency and protection for those who challenge wrongdoing. The scandal itself has exposed deep-rooted problems within the EMPD, the complicity of internal and external actors, and the challenges of maintaining integrity in a system plagued by corruption.