The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni has intensified pressure on the City of Ekurhuleni to suspend embattled City Manager Kagiso Lerutla, warning that it will pursue legal action should the municipality fail to act.
A small group of DA supporters gathered outside municipal offices on Monday morning, wearing blue party T-shirts and carrying placards reading “Ekurhuleni is a crime scene” and “Justice for Ekurhuleni” as Lerutla prepared to return to work following a period of special leave.
The DA argues that Lerutla’s return undermines accountability and compromises the integrity of the municipality while he faces serious criminal charges, including fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
DA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane said the party had formally requested the Speaker of Council to urgently convene a council meeting to consider placing Lerutla on precautionary suspension.
“We cannot have an accounting officer that is highly compromised for a city such as this,” Rasilingwane said.
She argued that local government disciplinary regulations clearly stipulate that senior officials facing criminal proceedings should be temporarily removed from their positions to allow investigations to proceed without interference.
“It has been standard procedure and a legal one at that,” she said.
Rasilingwane accused Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza of failing to act decisively after Lerutla’s arrest last month.
“Immediately, you would have expected the mayor to act. He did not. During the last council meeting, you would also have expected him to come into council and bring councillors into confidence after engaging legal experts. He did not,” she said.
According to the DA, the municipality’s handling of the matter reflects what the party described as a “culture of non-accountability” within the city administration.
Rasilingwane said the DA had already submitted legal documents and regulations to the Speaker in support of its demand for Lerutla’s suspension.
“No one should be seen to be above the law. No one should be seen to be shielded by politically senior individuals,” she added.
The party has now given the Speaker until midweek to convene a special council meeting.
“If the Speaker fails to act, we will write to the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, to intervene,” Rasilingwane warned.
“Failing that, we will take this matter to court because we are saying the City of Ekurhuleni is not for sale — neither for politicians that are powerful nor for officials that are highly connected.”
She said the DA would continue fighting to “protect the integrity” of the municipality and ensure investigations proceed “without any interference.”
In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, the DA said it rejected Lerutla’s return to work and accused the ANC-led administration of shielding officials from accountability.
“The days of corrupt officials colluding with corrupt politicians to fulfil their corrupt desires must come to an end,” the statement read.
The party further linked the controversy to broader service delivery concerns affecting residents across the metro, including deteriorating roads, electricity interruptions, water shortages and sanitation failures.
Meanwhile, the City of Ekurhuleni has defended Lerutla’s return, saying his period of special leave had expired, and that the council had not yet taken a formal decision to suspend him.
City of Ekurhuleni Spokesperson, Phakamile Mbangashe, confirmed that City Manager Kagiso Lerutla is back at work.
Background to the Case
Lerutla was arrested on 19 April 2026 at OR Tambo International Airport while allegedly preparing to board a flight. His arrest came a day after suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi was taken into custody.
The pair face charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice linked to an incident dating back to 2019. Prosecutors allege that Lerutla, who had been arrested for speeding at the time, paid for another individual to impersonate him in court while he attended a job interview instead.
According to court papers, the alleged impersonator appeared before the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court under false pretences and completed diversion documents using Lerutla’s personal details. The State alleges approximately R400,000 was paid to facilitate the scheme.
Lerutla and Mkhwanazi first appeared in the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court on 21 April before the matter was postponed for formal bail proceedings.
On 28 April, both men were granted bail of R30,000 each under strict conditions, including surrendering their passports and avoiding contact with witnesses.
The matter returned to court on 13 May, where it was transferred to the regional court. The case was postponed to 9 June 2026 for further proceedings and disclosure of evidence by the State.
At the time of publication, the City of Elurhuleni had not officially commented.
This is a developing story
