By Johnathan Paoli
The DA in Ekurhuleni has intensified calls for the full suspension of City Manager Kagiso Lerutla, accusing the metro administration of shielding him from accountability despite fraud and corruption charges hanging over his head.
The DA staged a picket on Monday morning against Lerutla’s return to office after he resumed his duties following a voluntary period of special leave that began in April after his arrest.
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Speaking in front of the Civic Centre, DA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane said the city had become synonymous with scandal and corruption.
“At every turn, the city of Ekurhuleni finds itself in the headlines for the wrong reasons. Whether it is corruption mentioned in the Madlanga Commission, a major systems compromise costing billions, irregular toilet tenders, assassinations, or in this case: a city manager who has been accused of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice; there can be no doubt that this city is a crime scene.”
Rasilingwane accused the administration led by Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza of failing to act decisively after Lerutla’s arrest.
“When Mr Lerutla’s arrest was announced in April, the correct course of action should have been for the council of Ekurhuleni to place him on precautionary suspension. This would have ensured that the integrity of the city is upheld,” she said.
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“Instead what we saw was the opposite. The executive used his application for special leave as an excuse not to act. They sat on their hands for weeks, and when pressed on the matter claimed they needed permission to seek a legal opinion,” she added.
She further accused the Speaker of Council, ATM’s John Senona, of blocking attempts to hold Lerutla accountable.
“When the DA initially submitted an urgent motion to place him on special leave, the Speaker rejected it, working hand in glove to shield Mr Lerutla from accountability,” Rasilingwane said.
She said her party would continue pressing for Lerutla’s suspension and warned that corrupt officials and politicians would no longer be protected under a DA administration.
“Today we say to mayor Xhakaza that his government must stop defending corruption by showing officials that accountability measures can be delayed. As the DA we reject the notion of the City Manager returning back to work. He must be suspended, and, if the executive is afraid to do it- we will lead the charge,” Rasilingwane said.
She called for an urgent council meeting to debate the matter, saying it was imperative the council acted in the best interests of the residents of the metro.
“The message must be heard loud and clear: a DA government will find and root out corruption, we will act against anyone who is found wanting and will do so without fear or favour. We will do so because we understand that the days of corrupt officials colluding with corrupt politicians to achieve corrupt goals, must come to an end,” Rasilingwane said.
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The DA has also linked the controversy surrounding Lerutla to broader allegations of financial misconduct in the metro, including claims of a R2-billion billing and invoicing scandal allegedly involving manipulated municipal systems.
The party said the Presidency had acknowledged its request for a Special Investigating Unit probe into the alleged corruption.
Lerutla and suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi are facing charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice linked to an alleged scheme in which another person was allegedly paid to appear in court on Lerutla’s behalf in relation to a 2019 speeding offence.
The state alleges Lerutla failed to attend a scheduled court appearance and instead arranged for a third party to impersonate him using his personal details.
It is further alleged that the city manager paid R200,000 for the arrangement and that Mkhwanazi assisted in facilitating the scheme.
Both officials appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court last week, were released on R30,000 bail and will return to court in June.
