Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and City Manager Kagiso Lerutla will remain in custody until Thursday, after a tense appearance at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday afternoon, where they made their first court appearance facing serious allegations of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
The pair’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the City of Ekurhuleni, already under intense scrutiny over governance failures and alleged corruption within its structures.
The court heard that the State is opposing immediate bail, arguing that more time is needed to further investigate the allegations, complete profiling of the accused, and establish the full extent of the alleged criminal network.
The case centres on allegations involving the unlawful supply of EMPD blue lights to a private businessman, as well as the alleged misuse of municipal council vehicles for private benefit. Prosecutors told the court that the matter may be broader than initially understood, suggesting that additional charges or suspects could still emerge.
A key development presented in court was the discovery of ammunition at Mkhwanazi’s residence when police executed a search following his arrest. According to the State, officers found a significant quantity of ammunition, raising immediate concerns about whether he was lawfully permitted to possess it, particularly given his suspension from the EMPD.
Mkhwanazi was suspended in 2025 amid internal disciplinary concerns within the metro police service, though details of the suspension were not fully expanded in court. The State has now indicated that investigators are assessing whether his possession of ammunition may constitute further offences or breaches of regulations governing suspended officers.
The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation led by the SAPS Madlanga Commission Task Team, which has been probing corruption and mismanagement within the City of Ekurhuleni. The investigation has already resulted in multiple arrests and is continuing, with police confirming that additional suspects remain under investigation.
According to SAPS, Mkhwanazi was arrested on Saturday at his home in Gauteng, while Lerutla was arrested on Sunday in Johannesburg. Both men were formally charged and brought before court together on Monday.
Outside the courthouse, tensions ran high as Democratic Alliance (DA) members staged a protest demanding full accountability from municipal leadership. The party called for urgent action against all implicated officials and warned that corruption had deeply undermined service delivery in the metro.
DA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane said the arrest of the City Manager was “deeply embarrassing” for the governing coalition, adding that it exposed what he described as systemic failure within the ANC–EFF-led administration.
The DA further called for Lerutla’s immediate suspension pending the outcome of the case, arguing that no senior official facing criminal charges should remain in office. That demand has since been overtaken by developments, as Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza confirmed the appointment of Tsholofelo Koopedi as acting city manager.
Koopedi, who previously served as head of the City’s Strategy and Corporate Planning department, has been given full authority to manage municipal administration during the crisis.
Mayor Xhakaza said the appointment was necessary to ensure continuity of governance and stability within the municipality while the legal process unfolds.
However, political pressure continues to mount. The DA has intensified its criticism of the metro’s leadership, arguing that the arrests are evidence of deeper structural corruption within the city’s administration. The party warned that more officials should expect scrutiny and potential prosecution as investigations continue.
In a strongly worded statement, the DA said the arrests must not end with only two individuals and called on law enforcement agencies to pursue all implicated officials “relentlessly, without fear or favour.”
Meanwhile, a source close to the municipality made explosive claims about alleged past incidents involving Lerutla, including accusations related to a fatal crash and alleged witness intimidation. It was claimed that Lerutla had previously been implicated in a case involving a collision on the N12 Freeway that resulted in the death of a woman, and that subsequent events surrounding the matter raised further questions. These allegations have not been tested in court and remain unproven.
The same source further alleged that there were attempts to interfere with witnesses linked to past investigations, though no formal evidence has been presented in court regarding these claims.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the arrests over the weekend and emphasised that the current case is separate from other ongoing investigations, including those referenced in public discourse around the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Mathe clarified that the matter “has nothing to do with IPID investigations or evidence led at the Madlanga Commission,” and stressed that police would provide further details when appropriate.
She also confirmed that more arrests could follow, stating that investigators are actively pursuing additional suspects linked to the broader corruption probe within the EMPD and the City of Ekurhuleni.
As the case unfolds, attention is now firmly fixed on Thursday’s bail application, where both Mkhwanazi and Lerutla will again appear before the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court. The State is expected to present further arguments as it continues to build its case in what is rapidly becoming one of the most significant municipal corruption investigations in recent years.
For now, both men remain behind bars, as questions grow over how deep the alleged corruption network runs within one of Gauteng’s largest metros.
