By Johnathan Paoli
Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi has been arrested in connection with the alleged R14.9 million Killarney precious stones robbery, becoming the fifth and final arrest in a case that has featured prominently before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Mkhwanazi was arrested by members of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on Friday evening and taken to the Germiston police station, where he joined Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department officer Witness K, who had been arrested earlier the same day.
The suspended EMPD deputy chief is expected to appear alongside Witness K in court on Monday on charges arising from the alleged February 2023 robbery.
Mkhwanazi did not respond to questions from journalists as IPID officers escorted him into the police vehicles from his residence.
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His arrest follows weeks of explosive testimony before the Madlanga Commission by Witness K, who admitted participating in the operation and alleged that Mkhwanazi orchestrated what she described as a bogus police raid used to steal precious stones worth approximately R14.9 million from a Killarney apartment.
Witness K alleged that she had supplied Mkhwanazi with information received from an informer about valuable sugilite and manganese stones being kept at the property.
According to her evidence, Mkhwanazi then assembled a team to carry out the operation, including EMPD officer Adrian Mackenzie and former EMPD officer Kersha-Leigh Stols.
She testified that the group met on 11 February 2023 before members travelled to the apartment posing as law enforcement officers.
Witness K told the commission that what appeared to be a SAPS seizure form was presented to the owner, Peter Prinsloo, to create the impression that the stones were being lawfully confiscated.
Witness K further testified that the stolen stones, allegedly worth R14.9 million, were later sold for just R110,000, with each of the five alleged participants receiving approximately R22,000.
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Only a small portion of the minerals, valued at about R40,000, has since been recovered.
She also disclosed that she had been in a romantic relationship with Mkhwanazi and had financially supported him by paying for groceries, legal expenses and his children’s school fees before he allegedly asked her to keep an eye out for opportunities to make money.
Mkhwanazi’s arrest follows that of Witness K earlier on Friday.
IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping confirmed earlier that investigators had arrested the EMPD officer in Alberton and were searching for another suspect after initially being unable to locate him.
She said investigators had originally obtained five warrants of arrest and had already executed three of them before completing the outstanding paperwork required for the remaining suspects.
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The latest arrests come a day after Mackenzie and Stols were granted R5,000 bail each in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and fraud.
Charges against one of the accused, businessman Etienne van der Walt were withdrawn by the state.
The criminal case has been postponed to 25 August, while Mkhwanazi and Witness K are expected to make their first appearance on Monday.
