By Johnathan Paoli
Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla will return to court next month after their case was transferred to the Regional Court on Wednesday.
Delivering the ruling at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court in Ekurhuleni, Magistrate Emmanuel Magampa said that Mkhwanazi and Lerutla must appear at the Boksburg Regional Court on 9 June.
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“Mr Mkhwanazi and Mr Lerutla, in terms of section 75(1)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act, the case against you is transferred to Regional Court 1, here in Boksburg,” Magampa said.
The regional court has wider sentencing jurisdiction than the district magistrate’s court.
The pair face charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice linked to an alleged 2019 scheme in which Lerutla is accused of arranging for another person to impersonate him in court after he failed to appear on a speeding charge.
The state alleges that Mkhwanazi assisted in orchestrating the plan and that about R400,000 was paid to the alleged impersonator to appear in court posing as Lerutla.
The state alleges that the R400,000 was allegedly shared between the impersonator and Mkhwanazi.
Their bail of R30,000 each was extended on the same conditions, including an order barring them from contacting state witnesses.
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During previous bail proceedings, prosecutors opposed their release, arguing there was a risk the accused could interfere with witnesses linked to the case.
The defence, however, maintained that both men were suitable candidates for bail and posed no flight risk.
Lerutla’s legal team argued that he had fully cooperated with investigators and had compelling personal and professional circumstances favouring his release.
In an affidavit submitted to the court, Lerutla said he earns more than R200,000 a month and is the sole breadwinner for his family.
His legal team also argued that his high-profile role within the municipality made it unlikely that he would evade trial.
