Mkhwanazi denies kidnapping claim, defends role in R14m gemstone operation

By Johnathan Paoli

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi defended his role in a controversial Johannesburg operation targeting alleged fake gemstone scams, and denied kidnapping EMPD spokesperson Kelebogile Thepa, calling the claims “pure lies” and a “planned character assassination”.

In a supplementary statement to the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday, Mkhwanazi said the February 8, 2023 operation involved EMPD, Gauteng provincial authorities and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), and was aimed at suspects accused of defrauding the public by selling fake stones online.

Two officers, Aiden McKenzie and Kersha-Lee Stols, have been implicated in the alleged theft of semi-precious stones worth R14 million.

Mkhwanazi said the operation was urgent and executed without formal requests or documentation.

“There was no formal request… it was an issue of hours,” he said.

He acknowledged he had no direct contact with JMPD officers and that no formal records of the