Ekurhuleni – The City of Ekurhuleni in South Africa has reinstated the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department Media and Public Relations Unit, returning Lieutenant Colonel Kelebogile Thepa to her substantive role as head of the unit.
The decision follows an internal review of the EMPD’s communication arrangements and the need to align operations with the City’s organisational structure, governance prescripts and communication policies.
City Manager Kagiso Lerutla said the move is part of efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability and public confidence in the EMPD. “Professional, consistent and accountable communication is essential for any law-enforcement agency operating in a constitutional democracy. The reinstatement of the EMPD Media and Public Relations Unit is a corrective governance measure that ensures our communications functions operate within an approved structure, with clear reporting lines and proper oversight,” Lerutla said.
He added that the step also supports the City’s broader Renewal Programme by reinforcing clean governance, institutional integrity and openness to the public.
The reinstated unit will coordinate media enquiries, statements and interview requests related to EMPD operations, support proactive public information and safety campaigns, work closely with the City’s Communications, Marketing and Tourism Department for consistent messaging, and strengthen crisis communication capacity in relation to law-enforcement incidents and public safety matters.
The City acknowledged that issues concerning the EMPD and its communication practices have surfaced in evidence before the Madlanga Commission. It stressed that reinstating the unit and returning Lieutenant Colonel Thepa to her position is an administrative and governance intervention that does not pre-empt the Commission’s findings or any ongoing labour processes.
“We will continue to cooperate fully with the Madlanga Commission and respect its independence,” Lerutla said. “At the same time, we have a responsibility to ensure that our internal structures are sound, lawful and fit for purpose so that residents receive timely, accurate and reliable information.”
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