Linda Gxasheka Biography
Linda Gxasheka is a senior public servant in South Africa. Until very recently, she served as the Head of Human Resources (HoD HR) for the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, one of the country’s largest and busiest local governments in Gauteng province. Ekurhuleni is home to more than 4 million people and includes towns such as Germiston, Boksburg, Benoni, and parts of the East Rand.
Her name became known to many South Africans only in December 2025 when the municipality suddenly placed her on precautionary suspension. The decision came directly after evidence was presented to an official investigation called the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Linda Gxasheka Early Life
Very little public information is available about Linda Gxasheka’s early years. Like many South African professionals born in the 1960s or 1970s, she grew up during the last decades of apartheid and experienced the arrival of democracy in 1994 while she was a young adult.
She completed her school education in South Africa and later obtained tertiary qualifications in human resource management, public administration, or a related field. Most senior HR managers in South African municipalities hold at least a national diploma or bachelor’s degree, and in many cases a postgraduate qualification as well. Although the exact names of her schools or universities have not been made public, her career path shows that she received solid training in labour law, personnel management, and public service regulations.
Linda Gxasheka Career
Linda Gxasheka has spent most of her working life in the public sector. She began in junior and middle-level human resources positions in various Gauteng municipalities and provincial departments. Over the years she gained deep experience in the following areas:
- Recruitment and selection of staff
- Employee training and development
- Handling disciplinary hearings
- Labour relations and union negotiations
- Employment equity and transformation programmes
Step by step, she moved up the ranks because of her knowledge of municipal laws and her ability to manage large teams.
Eventually she was appointed as the Head of Department: Human Resources for the City of Ekurhuleni. This is one of the most senior HR positions in local government outside of national departments. In this role she was directly responsible for the welfare and management of more than 18 000 permanent and contract workers. Her main day-to-day duties included:
- Overseeing the hiring of new employees
- Managing performance appraisals
- Running training and skills development programmes
- Ensuring the municipality met its employment equity targets
- Advising the City Manager and the Mayor’s office on all staff-related policies
- Representing the municipality in labour court cases and at the bargaining council
Her official work email was Linda.Gxasheka@ekurhuleni.gov.za, and her office was based at the municipality’s head office in Germiston.
Linda Gxasheka Personal Life
Linda Gxasheka has always kept her private life completely separate from her work. No reliable media reports or official records give details about her family, marital status, children, or place of residence. She has never shared personal information on public social media platforms, and the municipality respects the privacy of its employees. Therefore, everything the public knows about her relates only to her professional role and the recent official suspension announcement.
Linda Gxasheka Recent News
On 12 December 2025 the City of Ekurhuleni issued an official statement saying that Ms Linda Gxasheka had been placed on precautionary suspension with full pay, effective immediately.
The municipality explained the decision as follows: During 2025 the City set up the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to investigate claims of maladministration, irregular appointments, and possible corruption in several departments. While the commission was taking evidence, witnesses told the Human Resources Department had failed to act against the Chief of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD), Mr Julius Mkhwanazi, even though serious allegations had been made against him.
Some witnesses told the commission they felt unable to act because of fear of another senior official, Ms Imogen Mashazi. As Head of HR, Ms Gxasheka was responsible for starting disciplinary processes against senior managers when required. The City Manager therefore decided to remove her from duty temporarily so that an independent investigation could continue without any risk of interference.
Important points about the suspension:
- It is precautionary, not disciplinary. This means it is not a finding of guilt.
- She continues to receive her full salary.
- She may not enter municipal buildings or contact staff about the investigation.
- A separate internal disciplinary process will start once the investigation is complete.
As of 12 December 2025 no criminal charges have been laid, and the full commission report has not yet been released to the public.
Conclusion
Linda Gxasheka dedicated many years to public service and reached one of the highest human resources positions in South African local government. The precautionary suspension in December 2025 has placed her career under strong public attention. Whatever the final outcome, this case reminds all South Africans how important transparency, accountability, and good governance are in municipalities. Citizens expect fair processes and clear answers when public money and public trust are involved. The coming months will show whether Ms Gxasheka returns to her position or faces further consequences, but the matter is now being handled through official channels.
FAQs
Who is Linda Gxasheka?
She is (or was) the Head of Human Resources for the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.
Why was she suspended?
She was placed on precautionary suspension on 12 December 2025 after evidence to the Madlanga Commission suggested she did not act on serious allegations against the EMPD Chief.
Is the suspension permanent?
No, it is temporary while an investigation takes place.
Does she still get paid?
Yes, precautionary suspension in South Africa is always with full pay.
What is the Madlanga Commission?
An official 2025 inquiry ordered by Ekurhuleni to examine maladministration and governance problems.
Who is Julius Mkhwanazi?
The Chief of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department who faces separate allegations in the same matter.
Can she return to work later?
Yes, if the investigation clears her or if a disciplinary hearing finds her not guilty.