Boksburg – The bail hearing of suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Michael Lerutla has been postponed to Thursday at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court, leaving both officials in custody for at least two more nights.
The pair appeared side by side in the dock on Monday, with Mkhwanazi holding a medication case.
Their bail application was delayed after the state requested more time to verify their residential addresses. Prosecutors said Lerutla’s arrest at OR Tambo International Airport complicated efforts to confirm his residence, Sunday World reported.
The defence objected to the delay, arguing that verifying an address should not take 48 hours and that the postponement unfairly prolonged their detention.
Lerutla is also facing separate allegations dating back to 2019, where the state claims he evaded court proceedings after a speeding charge by allegedly paying a third party to impersonate him in court and complete diversion processes on his behalf, the report said.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) alleges that the scheme involved a payment of about R400,000 shared between those involved.
Meanwhile, Mkhwanazi faces charges of fraud, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice linked to alleged dealings with suspected cartel figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, including the installation of blue lights on Matlala’s vehicles.
Both officials are also under scrutiny in the Madlanga commission of inquiry, which is probing allegations of corruption, abuse of power, and links between municipal officials and criminal networks within the EMPD.
According to SABC News, the case has drawn strong political reaction, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni calling for Lerutla to be suspended pending the outcome of investigations.
The party has urged the executive mayor to act, arguing that officials facing serious allegations should step aside.
“Allow for the investigation to take place and for that to only happen is that he steps aside. We have issued a statement calling for the Executive Mayor to act upon this issue because we do not believe we can continue to be led by individuals with questionable characters,” the report quoted DA Ekurhuleni Mayoral Candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane as saying.
Despite an attempt early in the proceedings to limit media coverage due to the sensitivity of the matter and the senior positions of the accused, the court ultimately allowed journalists to remain present.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
