Suspended EMPD chief Julius Mkhwanazi and Ekurhuleni municipal manager Kagiso Lerutla briefly appeared in the Boksburg Regional Court on July 2, where their matter was postponed to July 13.

The pair face charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice after allegedly paying a third party R400 000 to impersonate Lerutla during a court appearance in March 2019.

Mkhwanazi and Lerutla were arrested in April and later released on R30 000 bail each following extensive arguments by the state and the defence. Bail was granted on April 28, with the matter postponed to May 13 for transfer to the regional court.

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While Mkhwanazi remains suspended, Lerutla returned to work after being granted bail, a decision that drew strong criticism from opposition parties in the Ekurhuleni council.

According to the State, the accused acted with a common purpose in March 2019 to unlawfully evade court proceedings. After Lerutla was arrested for speeding and required to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court, the pair allegedly recruited and paid a third party to impersonate him while Lerutla attended a municipal job interview.

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The State further alleges that the individual appeared in court under false pretences and completed diversion documentation using Lerutla’s personal details.

During the earlier bail proceedings, prosecutors also revealed fresh allegations linking Lerutla to a R10 000 payment made shortly after a fatal crash on the N12 in 2021. The State alleges the payment formed part of an attempt to conceal a culpable homicide case arising from the death of another motorist.