The City of Ekurhuleni has entered a period of administrative transition following the arrest and court appearance of City Manager Mr. Kagiso Lerutla.
In response, Executive Mayor Alderman Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has appointed Dr. Tsholofelo Koopedi as the Acting City Manager to ensure “uninterrupted service delivery”.
Mr. Lerutla appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court earlier this week on charges of fraud, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice.
The allegations reportedly stem from a 2019 traffic violation in which Lerutla and a senior metro police official allegedly colluded to have an impersonator appear in court on his behalf. Following these developments, Lerutla has taken leave to attend to the legal proceedings.
ANC Supports Mayor’s “Decisive Leadership”
The African National Congress (ANC) in Ekurhuleni issued a statement welcoming the Mayor’s “firm and decisive leadership”. Regional Secretary Cde Jongizizwe Dlabathi stated that the party fully supports the swift intervention to safeguard the integrity of the institution.
The ANC emphasized that it would refrain from speculating on the merits of the case while it is before the courts.
“The ANC Ekurhuleni remains confident that these developments will not disrupt the work of government,” the statement read, adding that service delivery to communities remains the central priority.
DA Demands Formal Suspension
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken a more critical stance, arguing that “special leave” is insufficient.
The party’s Mayoral Candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane called for the immediate formal suspension of the City Manager pending further investigation.
The DA claimed they had previously warned about Lerutla’s performance during his tenure as Group CFO.
“The city cannot continue to be led by someone who is potentially implicated in criminal activity,” Rasilingwane stated, describing the current administration as a “coalition of chaos” and calling for a full investigation into other potentially involved officials.
City Maintains Neutrality During Trial
Mayor Xhakaza has maintained that the city will refrain from further commentary to protect the integrity of the judicial system.
The Mayor’s office reiterated that the foremost priority is the stability of the city’s administration and the continued provision of essential public services to the residents of Ekurhuleni.
The city has indicated it will provide further updates through official administrative and legal channels as the case progresses.
