By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief, Julius Mkhwanazi and municipal manager Kagiso Lerutla bail application has been rolled over to Friday, 24 April 2026.
Both the accused appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court and they have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
They face charges of fraud, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice relating to a 2019 traffic violation and alleged impersonation case.
Mkhwanazi was arrested over the weekend at his home in Gauteng by SAPS Madlanga Commission Task Team.
The Task Team said they found more than 100 rounds of 9mm ammunition and about 15 rounds of R5 ammunition in his possession, and the matter is under investigation.
Lerutla was arrested a day later at OR Tambo International Airport after he landed from Cape Town.
After a long adjournment to depose fresh affidavits, the pair denied the allegations, offering contrasting version of the events.
In his affidavit, Mkhwanazi detailed his familial ties, financial responsibilities and health condition.
The suspended EMPD deputy head is a type two diabetic, earns R65 000 per month and is committed to life in Gauteng.
He said he would be willing to hand over his travel documents and even his personal transport to convince the court of his commitment to stand trial.
Lerutla’s affidavit confirmed he was the sole provider for his household, earning R220 000 per month.
He said he had no previous convictions, would not pose a danger to the public, would not flee if released and would not interfere with witnesses.
“I do not know who the exact witnesses are in this matter and I have no reason to interfere with them.
“I am fully aware that it would not be in my interest to interfere with any witnesses in this matter as this would put my bail at risk,” the statement read.
In opposing bail, the state said the charges were defrauding the criminal justice system, obstructing the administration of justice and the exchange of gratification payments.
Evidence reveals that on the 14th of May 2021 at about 00:10 applicant 2 (Lerutla) was driving a black Mercedes G Wagon with registration number JH 60 JB GP along N12 east bound when he got involved in a collision with a Hyundai whose driver died on the scene.
The scene was attended to by two EMPD officers who allegedly arranged for Applicant 2 to be transferred to hospital for medical attention as he was allegedly seriously injured, however, the Applicant was attended to at the hospital and discharged the same day without being admitted.
Case of culpable Homicide was registered as per Bedfordview CAS106/05/2021, closed as Withdrawn on the 28th of August 2023 but it is mysteriously missing from the SAPS storeroom where it is supposed to be kept.
The investigation in the Culpable Homicide docket placed us in a position to reconstruct the missing docket and the reconstruction is at an advanced stage including the investigation regarding such loss of the docket.
In the reconstruction of this docket, investigation reveals that immediately at the crime scene, the Tow truck driver was offered an amount of R10 000-00 by Applicant 2 to remove the body from the scene before the role players arrived at the crime scene, there is a statement to this effect.