Ekurhuleni municipal manager arrested

Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla is believed to be the senior official who was arrested on Sunday. According to sources who spoke to the Sowetan on condition of anonymity, Lerutla is expected to appear at the Boksburg magistrate’s court on Monday alongside metropolice deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi. This is according to Sowetan sources who revealed that Lerutla andMkhwanaziare being detained at the Midrand police station.

Mkhwanazi was arrested on Saturday. Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe confirmed the arrest of two suspects aged 40 and 50 years. “They are charged with fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice,” she said.

Another source from Midrand police station confirmed that Lerutla was being detained there. It is still unclear how Lerutla and Mkhwanazi, the suspended Ekurhuleni metro police deputy chief, are connected, but sources said it is not in relation to the blue lights saga highlighted at the Madlanga commission where Mkhwanazi was accused of providing blue lights to alleged cartel member Vusi “Cat” Matlala. The city’s mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza said he had not received full information and that he has been learning information through headlines.

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“What we know is that there was an ICT official that was arrested on Friday, and Mkhwanazi arrested yesterday so we don’t have the details. At least with Mkhwanazi we know its relation to Madlanga. “If there is anything that links Kagiso [Lerutla] it has not come up at Madlanga.

So we are trying to check if that is the case —, first, if Kagiso was arrested and what are the issues. I am sure as soon as we get that data we will send you the necessary updates,” he said. DA mayoral candidate in Ekurhuleni Khathutshelo Rasilingwane declined to comment until Lerutla’s court appearance on Monday. Lerutla is a qualified accountant and worked for the auditor-general before joining the Ekurhuleni municipality in 2014 as divisional head of compliance and governance in the city’s financial department.

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