Case against Ekurhuleni’s Mkhwanazi and Lerutla postponed, defence seeks more details

By Johnathan Paoli

The case against suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and Ekurhuleni City Manager Kagiso Lerutla has been postponed to next week after the defence requested additional information from the State to prepare for pre-trial proceedings.

The pair appeared in the Boksburg Regional Court on Thursday, where they face charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice stemming from allegations that an impostor was paid to appear in court on Lerutla’s behalf in connection with a 2019 speeding case.

Both Mkhwanazi and Lerutla remain out on R30,000 bail.

Proceedings on Thursday were expected to deal with amended charge sheets and pre-trial preparations.

However, the matter was delayed after defence lawyers argued that they required further particulars from prosecutors before they could proceed.

According to the State’s case, Lerutla was scheduled to appear in court on a speeding charge in 2019 but allegedly