Ahead of the court appearance of Ekurhuleni municipal manager Kagiso Lerutla, the Democratic Alliance (DA) wants Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza to immediately suspend Lerutla pending further investigation into the charges laid against him.

Lerutla was arrested on Sunday on charges related to fraud, corruption and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

He is expected to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday alongside suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi.

DA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane said the city cannot be led by someone who is potentially implicated in criminal activity.

“He must be suspended immediately,” she stated, calling on law enforcement to seek out others working for the City who were involved in crimes.

She said despite warnings from the DA about Lerutla’s performance in his previous position as Group CFO, where he was responsible for the city’s financial performance, the African National Congress and the Economic Freedom Fighters coalition placed him in one of the City’s most senior positions.

Before his arrest, Lerutla was focused on the “fixing the frontline” programme, launched earlier this year, aimed at restoring service delivery efficiency and professionalism at municipal depots.

“While some claim there was an active attempt to ‘fix the frontline’, our ongoing mayoral tour has revealed the true state of Ekurhuleni to be a city in dire straits. Residents should not have to pay the price for instability, mismanagement, and corruption,” said Rasilingwane.