Top city manager accused of paying R400,000 to impersonate him in court

The Ekurhuleni City Manager, Kagiso Lerutla, and suspended EMPD Deputy Chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, face charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

They appeared in the Boksburg Regional Court on Thursday, 2 July 2026, and the case was postponed to 13 July 2026 for amended charge sheets and pre-trial preparations.

They allegedly paid approximately R400 000 to a third party to impersonate Lerutla in court in 2019 when he allegedly failed to appear on a speeding charge.

The DA said that while Mkhwanazi remains suspended, Lerutla continues to occupy the highest administrative office in the City of Ekurhuleni.

“Lerutla should be placed on immediate precautionary suspension pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings,” the DA said.

“Allowing a City Manager facing such serious criminal charges to remain in office erodes public confidence.”

“It weakens accountability and raises legitimate concerns about the integrity of the City’s administration.”

It said that the administration’s continued failure to act decisively sends the wrong message to residents who expect ethical leadership and transparent governance.

“We formally wrote to Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, in June 2026, calling for urgent intervention,” it said.

“More than a month later, residents are still waiting for decisive action while a City Manager facing serious criminal charges remains in office.”

The DA renewed its call for immediate intervention and accountability by the City of Ekurhuleni administration.