EKURHULENI REAFFIRMS CONFIDENCE IN THE APPOINTMENT OF GROUP CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

The City of Ekurhuleni notes the correspondence received from the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Hon. Jacob Mamabolo, and the leaked letter drafted by the Minister of CoGTA, Hon. Velenkosini Hlabisa, concerning the validity of the appointment of Mr. Kagiso Lerutla as Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO).

While we acknowledge the concerns raised, we believe that the conclusions drawn within the Minister’s correspondence lack the totality of the facts surrounding Mr. Lerutla’s reappointment in August 2024 and the context within which the Municipality found itself in at the time.

The City remains committed to the principles of cooperative governance as outlined in the Inter-Governmental Relations Framework Act (IGR Framework). Consequently, we will promptly respond to the MEC within the stipulated timeframe, as outlined in his correspondence to the city.

Mr. Lerutla is a Chartered Accountant CA(SA) with a distinguished career in public sector finance management. His professional journey began at the Auditor-General of South Africa, where he was recognised as Employee of the Year and Best Newcomer of 2010. He joined the City of Ekurhuleni in 2014 as the Divisional Head: Governance and Compliance, progressing through senior roles to become the Group Chief Financial Officer in 2019 at the age of 32.

During his tenure, Mr. Lerutla has led the City to three consecutive clean audits, secured an AAA credit rating (the highest attainable), and was nominated for Public Sector CFO of the Year in 2022. His expertise in financial governance, supply chain management, and audit compliance is well established, with his leadership contributing significantly to the City’s financial stability and governance integrity .

We wish to reaffirm that Mr. Lerutla’s reappointment followed due process, aligning with the governance frameworks and principles of merit-based progression within the institution. His service record reflects a commitment to financial discipline, ethical governance, and sustainable fiscal management.

We look forward to a cooperative and solution-driven engagement with the Department of CoGTA to ensure administrative continuity and the preservation of good governance in our City.

Alderman Nkosindiphile Xhakaza
Executive Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni