Suspended EMPD deputy chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi and an officer known as “Witness K” are expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with the alleged theft of precious stones worth R14.9 million after spending the weekend in police custody.
The pair were arrested on Friday during an intelligence-led operation conducted by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
The arrests form part of an ongoing IPID investigation into the alleged theft.
Mkhwanazi was arrested at a house in Kensington, Johannesburg, shortly before 8pm on Friday.
IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping confirmed the arrest.
“The second suspect was finally arrested at a house in Kensington just before 8 p.m. He will also be detained at the Germiston Police Station,” Suping said.
His arrest followed that of “Witness K“, an inspector in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) VIP Protection Unit, who was arrested in Alberton earlier on Friday as part of the same investigation.
Witness K previously testified before the Madlanga Commission that Mkhwanazi allegedly orchestrated the 2023 Killarney robbery.
She alleged that she, Mkhwanazi and a three-member team carried out the operation, which involved the theft of high-grade sugilite and manganese stones.
She also claimed they each received R110,000 from the proceeds. Mkhwanazi has denied the allegations.
The arrests come after Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officer Adrian MacKenzie and former EMPD officer Kersha-Leigh Stols told the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court that they acted on instructions they claim were given by Mkhwanazi.
The allegations emerged during the pair’s bail application last week on Thursday.
MacKenzie and Stols face charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and fraud.
They were arrested in connection with an incident at a flat in Killarney, Johannesburg, on February 11, 2023.
According to the State, MacKenzie and Stols falsely identified themselves as members of a multidisciplinary law enforcement team comprising EMPD officials and members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), claiming they were investigating suspected lithium smuggling.
Prosecutors allege they used those representations to gain entry to the property before assaulting the complainant, threatening those present with firearms and stealing six boxes of high-grade sugilite and manganese stones valued at an estimated R14.9 million.
The State further alleges the pair acted outside the EMPD’s lawful jurisdiction while falsely claiming they were authorised to conduct law enforcement operations within the City of Johannesburg.
During Thursday’s proceedings, prosecutors withdrew the charges against businessman Etienne van der Walt, who had also been arrested in connection with the matter.
MacKenzie and Stols were granted bail of R5,000 each.
The case was postponed to August 25 for further investigation.
