Senior Ekurhuleni Officials Detained Amid Corruption Probe
City Manager Kagiso Lerutla and Deputy Metro Police Chief Julius Mkhwanazi in Custody
Ekurhuleni’s city manager, Kagiso Lerutla, is reportedly the high-ranking official apprehended on Sunday, according to confidential sources who spoke to the Sowetan. Lerutla is scheduled to appear in the Boksburg magistrate’s court on Monday alongside Julius Mkhwanazi, the suspended deputy chief of the metro police, who was arrested the previous day.
Both Lerutla and Mkhwanazi are currently held at the Midrand police station, as confirmed by multiple insiders. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe verified the arrests of two individuals aged 40 and 50, facing charges including fraud, corruption, and obstruction of justice.
Unclear Links Between Lerutla and Mkhwanazi
While the exact connection between Lerutla and Mkhwanazi remains uncertain, sources emphasize that their detentions are unrelated to the blue lights controversy previously exposed at the Madlanga Commission. This scandal involved Mkhwanazi allegedly authorizing blue lights for Vusi “Cat” Matlala, a suspected cartel figure.
Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza stated that he has yet to receive comprehensive details, learning mostly through media reports. “We know an ICT official was arrested on Friday and Mkhwanazi on Saturday, but the specifics are still unclear. Mkhwanazi’s case is linked to the Madlanga Commission, but nothing has surfaced connecting Kagiso to that matter. We are investigating and will provide updates once more information is available,” he explained.
Political Reactions and Pending Court Proceedings
Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, the Democratic Alliance’s mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni, refrained from commenting until Lerutla’s court appearance on Monday.
Kagiso Lerutla’s Career and Recent Attack
Lerutla, a qualified accountant, began his career at the Auditor-General’s office before joining Ekurhuleni municipality in 2014 as the divisional head of compliance and governance within the financial department. He was promoted to chief financial officer in 2019 and ascended to city manager in November 2022.
In a troubling incident last September, Lerutla survived an alleged assassination attempt. Reports indicate that unknown assailants ambushed him in Primrose, firing multiple shots at his vehicle and injuring his hand. Eyewitnesses described the attackers as emerging from a Hyundai i10 before opening fire while Lerutla was reportedly traveling alone.
Background on Julius Mkhwanazi’s Controversies
In 2022, Mkhwanazi faced allegations of unlawfully equipping vehicles owned by Matlala with blue lights, bypassing city authorization. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) issued a critical report in 2023, recommending disciplinary action against Mkhwanazi for breaching standards of honesty and integrity.
Investigations revealed that four vehicles were registered under the City of Ekurhuleni between January 18 and 24, 2023, before being re-registered as “CAT VIP” vehicles in March. The city’s funds, approximately R2,218, were used for registration and licensing fees.
The Ipid report stated: “Disciplinary measures should be pursued against Mkhwanazi for violating the MP Disciplinary Procedure Collective Agreement regarding conduct with honesty and integrity. The case has been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further action.”
Allegations of Protection and Administrative Suspensions
Despite these findings, the city reportedly ignored the disciplinary recommendations, allegedly due to protection from former city manager Imogen Mashazi, legal head Advocate Kemi Behari, and HR head Linda Gxasheka. All three have denied these claims but have since been suspended pending further investigations.
Ongoing Investigations and Potential Further Arrests
Brigadier Mathe indicated over the weekend that police are actively pursuing additional arrests connected to corruption within Ekurhuleni’s municipal structures, signaling a broader crackdown on malfeasance.
Source: Sowetan
