Suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Appears in Court as Questions Arise Over Book He Carried

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi appeared before the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, April 20, facing serious charges alongside Ekurhuleni City Manager Kagiso Lerutla.

The pair have been charged with fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice. According to prosecutors, they allegedly arranged for an associate to impersonate Lerutla during a previous court appearance so he could attend a job interview instead.

Mkhwanazi arrived under heavy police guard, dressed in a navy tracksuit. However, attention quickly shifted to an unusual detail — he was seen carrying a copy of Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation by late US civil rights leader John Lewis.

He was also holding a plastic container resembling a multi-compartment pill organiser.

The case did not proceed on Monday and has been postponed to Thursday, April 23, after the state opposed bail and requested additional time to verify key details in the investigation.

The presence of the book in court has raised questions, though neither Mkhwanazi nor his legal team have provided any explanation.

Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation is a collection of writings completed by Lewis in the final months of his life. The book reflects on themes such as justice, non-violence, civic duty and personal values, offering guidance to younger generations.

For now, the reason behind Mkhwanazi bringing the book to court remains unclear, leaving observers to speculate whether it holds personal meaning or was simply incidental.