Suspended EMPD deputy chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi, his former romantic partner and others are due to appear at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, after being granted bail in a case involving the alleged theft of precious stones worth R14.9 million.
Mkhwanazi and his partner, an inspector in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department’s VIP Protection Unit identified as Witness K, were each granted R5,000 bail after being arrested during an intelligence-led operation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
He faces charges linked to the alleged theft of precious stones worth R14.9 million.
The court previously heard that Mkhwanazi and Witness K had been in a romantic relationship. Mkhwanazi claimed she was in love with him and hoped they would marry.
Witness K previously told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that Mkhwanazi orchestrated the February 11, 2023, Killarney robbery.
She alleged that she and three others stole high-grade sugilite and manganese stones and that each received R110,000. However, Mkhwanazi has denied the allegations.
Their arrests followed testimony by EMPD officer Adrian MacKenzie and former EMPD officer Kersha-Leigh Stols, who alleged that they acted on Mkhwanazi’s instructions.
Stols and MacKenzie face charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and fraud, and were each granted R5,000 bail earlier in July.
The State withdrew charges against businessman Etienne van der Walt.
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False identification
According to the State, the accused falsely identified themselves as members of a multidisciplinary law enforcement team comprising EMPD officials and members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI). They allegedly claimed they were investigating suspected lithium smuggling.
Prosecutors allege they used those representations to gain entry to a property, where they assaulted the complainant, threatened occupants with firearms and stole six boxes of high-grade sugilite and manganese stones valued at an estimated R14.9 million.
The State further alleges that they acted outside the EMPD’s lawful jurisdiction while falsely claiming they were authorised to conduct law enforcement operations in the City of Johannesburg.
