JOHANNESBURG - The courts have gotten off to a busy start this week, with several matters linked to the Madlanga Commission revelations and the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) being heard.
The City of Ekurhuleni says it is in uncharted territory as its Municipal Manager, Kagiso Lerutla, and suspended Metro Police deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi appeared in the Boksburg magistrate’s court on Monday.
READ: Julius Mkhwanazi and Ekurhuleni city manager’s case postponed for bail bid
Mkhwanazi was arrested over the weekend and faces charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
The South African Police Service task team linked to the Madlanga Commission effected his arrest. He is also under investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) in relation to the blue lights scandal involving Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.
READ: 'I don't remember', Mkhwanazi disputes Mike van Wyk Medicare24 link
Mkhwanazi is accused of facilitating the registration of Matlala’s vehicles with the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) and the installation of blue lights on private vehicles. He has denied the allegations, claiming the vehicles were donations to the City.
READ: Julius Malema sees red, Julius Mkhwanazi doesn't remember, Roelf Meyer is coming to America
Other matters under IPID investigation include the theft of precious stones and the 2022 murder of Emmanuel Mbense.
Lerutla is also facing charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice, stemming from a speeding incident.
It is alleged that in 2019, he was fined for speeding but failed to appear in court, after which the fines were allegedly cleared.
READ: Mkhwanazi accused of misleading Madlanga Commission to secure postponement
He is also linked to a fatal drinking and driving incident. The sister of the deceased had reportedly inquired about the case but was later found dead under mysterious circumstances.
More arrests are believed to be imminent. The matter involving Lerutla and Mkhwanazi has been adjourned.
Sergeant Fannie Nkosi
In Pretoria, suspended Organised Crime Unit member Fannie Nkosi has denied that police dockets and weapons found at his home were in his possession illegally.
A ruling on his bail application has been postponed to Wednesday. Nkosi has accused the state of deliberately delaying proceedings.
He faces multiple charges after a raid at his home uncovered seven firearms, ammunition, and six unprocessed police dockets dating back to 2016, linked to cash-in-transit heists.
Nkosi told the court he was unable to return the items at the time. His testimony at the Madlanga Commission -- where he was implicated as a middleman between senior police officials and alleged criminal cartel members -- has also come under scrutiny.
He maintains the state’s case is weak, arguing that key allegations are not supported by evidence.
One case dates back to 2013, where a delivery driver transporting cigarettes worth R44,000 was allegedly hijacked and forced to hand over the vehicle.
Although fingerprints of a suspect were found and the individual identified, they were never submitted to the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) for processing.
The matter was postponed in September 2016, with no further progress recorded.
READ: Hijackings, cash-in-transit heists | Inside dockets found in Nkosi's Wendy house
However, the fingerprints were never submitted to the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) for processing.
According to the state, the matter was postponed to 13 September 2016 for the attorney, with no further progress recorded.
READ: Court rejects Nkosi’s bid for prison hospital wing placement
In a separate 2014 case, cigarettes worth more than R280,000 were stolen. Despite CCTV footage and an identification parade, no further investigation followed and no formal charges were recorded.
A similar pattern emerged in a 2015 hijacking case in Atteridgeville involving a British American Tobacco employee. Evidence was collected, including fingerprints and CCTV footage, but no progress was made.
Nkosi had also requested to be moved to the hospital wing at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility, citing health concerns and safety fears. The request was denied by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola made a brief appearance at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
He faces four counts of contravening the Public Finance Management Act.
READ: Cachalia: Masemola has not been charged with corruption
At the centre of the case is a controversial R360-million tender awarded to Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.
The matter has been postponed to 13 May, when Masemola is expected to appear alongside Matlala and 12 other police officers who were arrested last month.
The NPA’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) alleges irregularities in the tender process, including collusion involving members of the police’s Bid Evaluation Committee.
Acting National Police Commissioner Firoz Cachalia has clarified that Masemola is not facing corruption charges. He is expected back in court next month in connection with the Medicare24 tender matter.
City of Tshwane
City of Tshwane CFO Gareth Mnisi is continuing his testimony at the Madlanga Commission.
He has denied receiving money from Fannie Nkosi or influencing municipal tender processes.
Mnisi told the Commission that he maintains a formal professional relationship with suspended TMPD deputy chief Umashi Dhlamini.
He has been implicated in allegations of tender rigging and procurement irregularities.
Suleiman Carrim
North West businessman Suleiman Carrim is expected to return to the Madlanga Commission on 29 April after being hospitalised.
Carrim maintains that he has proof of his illness and will present it to the Commission.