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

Two senior municipal officials face charges of fraud, corruption and obstructing justice, with court appearance set for Monday.

Police arrested suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi, 50, at his Gauteng home on Saturday, and Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla, 40, in Johannesburg on Sunday, both facing charges of fraud, corruption and defeating or obstructing the ends of justice¹²³. The arrests were conducted by the South African Police Service's Madlanga task team¹⁴.

Both suspects are being held at Midrand police station and are scheduled to appear in the Boksburg magistrate's court on Monday²³⁴. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the arrests but declined to comment on the merits of the case¹².

Mkhwanazi was accused of fraudulently fitting blue lights to a fleet belonging to alleged cartel member Vusi "CAT" Matlala². His arrest followed several days of testimony at the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria, where his alleged dealings with Matlala came under scrutiny⁴. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate had previously found Mkhwanazi was allegedly central to fitting blue lights on vehicles linked to Matlala, who faces criminal charges⁴. Testimony by the late Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D before the commission, added claims of a cover-up tied to a 2022 case involving Emmanuel Mbense's body⁴.

Police stated the arrests are not connected to the IPID probe or evidence before the Madlanga Commission⁴. The connection between Lerutla and Mkhwanazi remains unclear, though sources indicated the charges are not related to the blue lights matter highlighted at the commission³.

Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza said he had not received full information and was learning details through headlines³. He noted an ICT official was arrested on Friday, followed by Mkhwanazi on Saturday, and confirmed that Mkhwanazi's arrest relates to the Madlanga proceedings, though any connection to Lerutla had not emerged at the commission³.

ActionSA called for Mkhwanazi's immediate dismissal, stating he had brought the EMPD and City of Ekurhuleni into disrepute and forfeited his credibility⁶. Police indicated they are still searching for other suspects linked to the case as part of an ongoing investigation into corruption within the EMPD¹.