Why Was Kagiso Lerutla Arrested?
On April 19, Kagiso Michael Lerutla, the City Manager of Ekurhuleni, was arrested at O. R. Tambo International Airport.
His arrest comes at a time when the #MadlangaCommission is intensifying its investigations into alleged corruption involving public officials. While many initially believed his arrest was linked to the commission, Lerutla, through his lawyer, clarified that the matter is unrelated.
Michael Lerutla Reveals Why He Was Arrested
In a statement released by his legal representative, it was explained that Lerutla was arrested by members of the South African Police Service over a separate legal issue.
The arrest stems from a 2019 speeding case, where Lerutla was charged with exceeding the speed limit.
According to the statement:
- He allegedly failed to appear in court when required
- Another individual is said to have appeared in court impersonating him
- The community service sentence linked to the case was reportedly carried out by someone else
Lerutla has distanced himself from the Madlanga Commission, emphasizing that the arrest relates strictly to a personal legal matter.
“We hereby confirm that our client was arrested on 19 April 2026 by members of the South African Police Service and charged with allegations arising from a car speeding case in 2019. The allegations include failure to appear in court, impersonation by another individual, and community service being carried out by someone else. These allegations do not relate to the Madlanga Commission and arise from a matter involving our client in his personal capacity,” the statement read.
Ongoing Legal Issues
Despite this clarification, Lerutla—alongside suspended Deputy EMPD chief Julius Mkhwanazi—is also reportedly facing separate charges, including:
- Corruption
- Fraud
- Defeating or obstructing the course of justice
Career and Education
Lerutla was appointed City Manager on 1 November 2025, having previously served as Group Chief Financial Officer of the city.
He holds:
- A Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Limpopo
- A BCom Honours in Accounting from the University of Johannesburg
He is also a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (CA(SA)).
Allegations of Personal Relationships
There have been unverified claims by some commentators that Lerutla has been romantically linked to public figures such as Cyan Boujee, Sithelo Shozi, and Mawhoo.
However, Lerutla has not publicly responded to these allegations.
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