Boksburg: The Boksburg Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla, setting the amount at R30,000 each.
The two senior officials face charges of fraud, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice.
The case stems from a 2019 incident in which Lerutla was arrested for speeding. The state alleges that Mkhwanazi orchestrated a scheme in which his driver appeared in court on Lerutla’s behalf in exchange for payment, enabling Lerutla to avoid a criminal record while pursuing a chief financial officer position.
According to the state, Lerutla paid approximately R400,000, which was shared with Mkhwanazi and his driver.
Delivering judgment, the magistrate emphasised that the decision was reached independently and in accordance with the law, based strictly on the facts presented before the court.
The court found that both applicants had successfully discharged the onus of proving, on a balance of probabilities, that their release would be in the interests of justice.
While granting bail, the magistrate acknowledged the seriousness of the charges facing the pair, stating that this was reflected in the bail amount set. The court also considered the financial means of the accused in determining an appropriate bail figure.
Strict bail conditions have been imposed. Both Mkhwanazi and Lerutla are required to surrender their passports to the state before their release and are prohibited from contacting state witnesses, directly or indirectly. Particular emphasis was placed on avoiding any communication with key witness Thabang Tsotetsi.
They are also barred from applying for any travel documents until the case against them is finalised.
The court warned that failure to comply with these conditions would result in immediate arrest, the revocation of bail, and forfeiture of the bail money to the state.
Meanwhile, the State indicated that cellphones seized during the investigation will remain in police custody as they form part of ongoing inquiries.The matter has been postponed to 13 May 2026 as investigations continue.
