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

Kagiso Lerutla and Julius Mkhwanazi face charges linked to a 2019 speeding case and alleged court impersonation scheme.

Two senior Ekurhuleni municipal officials appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice, following arrests over the weekend by the SAPS Madlanga task team¹²⁴.

City manager Kagiso Lerutla, 40, was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday shortly after returning from Cape Town³¹⁰¹³. Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi, 50, was arrested at his Gauteng home on Saturday¹⁴. Both men were held at Midrand police station²³.

The state alleges that Lerutla was arrested for speeding in 2019 and was released on R1,000 bail with a court date that coincided with a scheduled interview for the chief financial officer position at the municipality¹⁴. Instead of appearing in person, an impersonator attended court in Lerutla's place, claimed to be him, and was convicted and sentenced to community service¹²¹⁴. Investigators allege Lerutla paid both the impersonator and Mkhwanazi R200,000 each to facilitate the deception¹²¹⁴.

National police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said the state maintains that Lerutla and Mkhwanazi "acted in common purpose in the commission of the offence," with Mkhwanazi described as "the receiver of the gratification" and Lerutla as "the giver"¹². She added that a whistleblower provided the information that led to the arrests¹⁴.

The case was postponed to Thursday for a bail hearing¹¹¹². The Democratic Alliance in Ekurhuleni called for Lerutla's suspension pending the investigation¹¹. The City of Ekurhuleni appointed Tsholofelo Koopedi to act as city manager for Monday only¹⁰.

Mathe said the Madlanga Commission "has become a critical tool and platform in uncovering the truth about alleged corruption" and that the task team is examining cases beyond evidence presented at the commission¹³. ActionSA called for Mkhwanazi's immediate dismissal from the city, with spokesperson Tumelo Tshabalala stating that "these allegations have always been there, way before the Madlanga Commission"⁷.

Mkhwanazi had previously testified at the Madlanga Commission about his alleged dealings with suspected criminal cartel member Vusumuzi "Cat" Matlala, including claims he fitted blue lights to Matlala's vehicles⁴¹¹. Police confirmed the current charges are not connected to that investigation⁴.