Ekurhuleni City Manager Kagiso Lerutla Arrested At OR Tambo International Over Corruption Allegations

Ekurhuleni City Manager Kagiso Lerutla faces fraud and corruption charges following his arrest at OR Tambo Airport. Calls for his suspension grow in Gauteng.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 20, 2026, 5:38 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EWN

High Stakes Arrest At Major International Gateway

The City of Ekurhuleni has been plunged into a leadership crisis following the weekend arrest of its City Manager, Kagiso Lerutla, at OR Tambo International Airport. Lerutla, who was reportedly attempting to board a flight, was taken into custody by authorities on serious charges including fraud, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice. This dramatic development follows his relatively recent appointment to the city’s top administrative post in November 2025, a role he transitioned into after serving as the municipality's Group Chief Financial Officer.

Joint Court Appearance In Boksburg Magistrates Court

Lerutla is slated to appear in the Boksburg Magistrates Court on Monday to face the formal reading of charges against him. He will not stand alone in the dock, as he is scheduled to appear alongside Julius Mkhwanazi, the suspended deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD). Mkhwanazi was arrested separately on Saturday, and investigators believe the cases against both senior officials are interconnected through broader inquiries into municipal irregularities and financial misconduct.

Political Pressure Mounts For Immediate Dismissal

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has wasted no time in demanding that Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza act decisively by suspending Lerutla. Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, the DA’s mayoral candidate, stated that senior officials implicated in such severe criminal activity must face immediate consequences to maintain the integrity of the city's governance. The opposition has long criticized Lerutla's track record, particularly his tenure as CFO, and is now using his arrest as proof of what they describe as deep-seated rot within the local coalition government.