Ekurhuleni city manager and metro police deputy chief arrested on fraud charges

Kagiso Lerutla and Julius Mkhwanazi appeared in court over an alleged 2019 scheme to avoid a speeding conviction.

Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla and suspended metro police deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice¹²⁴. The case was postponed to Thursday for a bail hearing¹¹.

Mkhwanazi was arrested at his home in Gauteng on Saturday by the South African Police Service Madlanga task team, while Lerutla was arrested on Sunday morning at OR Tambo International Airport after returning from Cape Town¹²¹³. Both men are being detained at Midrand police station³.

The charges relate to an alleged scheme in 2019 in which Lerutla, then arrested for speeding, paid someone to impersonate him in court¹²¹⁴. According to national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, Lerutla was scheduled to attend court on the same day he had an interview for the chief financial officer position at Ekurhuleni municipality¹⁴. The state alleges that Lerutla and Mkhwanazi "colluded and found an impersonator who would go to court and pretend to be Lerutla"¹⁴. The impersonator appeared in court, was found guilty and sentenced to community service¹⁴. Investigators claim Lerutla paid both the impersonator and Mkhwanazi R200,000 each¹⁴. The state maintains that "accused one [Mkhwanazi] is the receiver of the gratification, and accused two [Lerutla] is the giver"¹².

Mathe said the arrests followed information from a whistleblower and are part of broader investigations stemming from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry¹³¹⁴. She described the commission as "a critical tool and platform in uncovering the truth about alleged corruption, infiltration and political interference"¹³. However, police stated that these specific arrests are not connected to evidence presented at the commission or to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate probe into Mkhwanazi⁴.

Mkhwanazi had recently testified at the Madlanga Commission about allegations linking him to criminal cartel member Vusumuzi "Cat" Matlala, including claims he fraudulently fitted blue lights to Matlala's vehicles⁴¹¹. When arrested, Mkhwanazi was found in possession of more than 100 rounds of live ammunition¹³.

The City of Ekurhuleni appointed Tsholofelo Koopedi to act as city manager for Monday¹⁰. Lerutla, 40, has served as city manager for five months after previously working as chief financial officer¹⁰. Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza said he had been learning information "through headlines" and that any connection between Lerutla and matters before the Madlanga Commission had not yet emerged³.

The Democratic Alliance called for Lerutla's immediate suspension, with mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane stating that residents "should not have to pay the price for instability, mismanagement and corruption"¹⁵. ActionSA spokesperson Tumelo Tshabalala called for Mkhwanazi's dismissal, saying "these allegations have always been there, way before the Madlanga Commission"⁷. The Activists and Citizens Forum said the arrest was "long overdue" and described Mkhwanazi as "a criminal in police uniform" based on commission testimony⁵.