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

Julius Mkhwanazi and Kagiso Lerutla face charges linked to a 2019 court impersonation scheme allegedly involving R400,000 in payments.

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and city manager Kagiso Lerutla were arrested over the weekend and appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate's Court on Monday, facing charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.¹²³

Mkhwanazi, 50, was arrested at his home in Gauteng on Saturday by the South African Police Service Madlanga Task Team, while Lerutla, 40, was arrested on Sunday morning at OR Tambo International Airport shortly after returning from Cape Town.¹³¹⁰¹³

The charges relate to an incident in March 2019 when Lerutla was arrested for speeding and released on R1,000 bail.¹²¹⁴¹⁹ According to national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, Lerutla was scheduled to appear in court on the same day he had an interview for the position of chief financial officer at Ekurhuleni municipality.¹⁴ The state alleges that Lerutla approached Mkhwanazi, and they arranged for an impersonator to attend court in Lerutla's place.¹²¹⁴¹⁷

Mathe said the impersonator, identified only as Mr X for safety reasons, appeared in court claiming to be Lerutla, was found guilty, and was sentenced to community service for speeding.¹⁴¹⁷ It is alleged that Lerutla paid R400,000, which Mkhwanazi split with the impersonator, each receiving R200,000.¹²¹⁴¹⁷ The state maintains that the two acted in common purpose, with Mkhwanazi as the receiver of gratification and Lerutla as the giver.¹²

The case was postponed to Thursday for a bail hearing, with the state indicating it will oppose bail.¹¹¹⁷ Both men have been detained at Midrand police station.²³

Mathe said the arrests emerged from information brought forward to the Madlanga Commission task team, which is investigating corruption within metro law enforcement structures.¹³ However, police said the arrests are not connected to previous allegations against Mkhwanazi heard at the Madlanga Commission, where he faced scrutiny over his alleged dealings with suspected criminal cartel member Vusumuzi Matlala, including accusations he fitted blue lights to Matlala's vehicles.⁴¹¹

The Democratic Alliance and ActionSA have called for Lerutla's immediate suspension and, if found guilty, dismissal.¹¹¹⁵¹⁶ ActionSA confirmed it would table a motion in council to suspend Lerutla, citing provisions in the Municipal Systems Act that allow council to act where serious allegations exist.¹⁶ Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza said he had been learning details through media reports and that the city had appointed Tsholofelo Koopedi as acting city manager for Monday.³¹⁰

Civic groups including the Activists and Citizens Forum said Mkhwanazi's arrest was overdue, with spokesperson Dennis Bloem stating that evidence at the Madlanga Commission had painted a picture of Mkhwanazi as "a criminal in police uniform."⁵