Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla and deputy police chief Julius Mkhwanazi appeared in Boksburg Magistrate’s Court seeking bail on charges of fraud, corruption and obstructing justice. The allegations stem from a 2019 impersonation scheme and a 2021 fatal accident cover-up. The state opposes bail, citing risks of interference.
The Boksburg Magistrate’s Court heard details of the 2019 incident where Lerutla, arrested for speeding, allegedly failed to appear in court. Instead, he sought help from Mkhwanazi, who arranged for his personal driver to impersonate Lerutla. Investigating officer Silindile Madinane stated in her affidavit that Lerutla paid R400,000 in instalments, split between Mkhwanazi and the driver, to protect his career during a CFO interview.
Madinane argued this was "an assault on the criminal justice system" and noted the case only resurfaced in 2026 due to the Madlanga Commission task team. She expressed fears that releasing the pair on bail could lead to interference with vulnerable subordinate witnesses.
The court also learned of a May 2021 head-on collision in Benoni involving Lerutla, where the other driver died. Lerutla allegedly paid a tow truck driver R10,000 to remove the body before police arrived. A culpable homicide case was opened but withdrawn months later, with the docket now missing and under reconstruction.
Further evidence linked Mkhwanazi to deaths, including former EMPD officer Marius van der Merwe, murdered in December 2025 after testifying about a cover-up ordered by Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi claimed political motives behind his arrest, citing his health and R7-million pension. Lerutla, earning R220,000 monthly, insisted he poses no flight risk. The hearing continues on April 24.
