Thapelo Molefe
A protected Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) inspector, Witness K, has testified that suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi assembled a team that allegedly stole precious stones worth nearly R15 million before selling them for R110,000 and sharing the proceeds.
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday, Witness K said she provided Mkhwanazi with information about Sugilite stones being kept at an apartment in Killarney, Johannesburg, after he allegedly asked her to pass on information that could generate money.
“I then told Mr Mkhwanazi about the informer and mentioned that the informer needed someone to get the stones for him from the owner. Mr Mkhwanazi asked me to get in touch with the informer, and he would assemble a team to follow the information received,” she said.
Witness K said she had been in a romantic relationship with Mkhwanazi and had previously assisted him financially by paying for groceries, legal expenses and his children’s school fees.
She told the commission that after she could no longer assist him financially, Mkhwanazi asked her to “keep her ears to the ground” for opportunities involving money.
Witness K said she then recalled information from an informer who wanted assistance obtaining Sugilite stones from their owner.
According to Witness K, the plan was discussed during a meeting at a restaurant in Randhart on 11 February 2023.
Present at the meeting were Mkhwanazi, EMPD officers Aiden McKenzie and Kershia Leigh Stols, who were dressed in uniform, and civilian Etienne van der Walt.
The commission heard that the officers later went to Rosebank police station before proceeding to the Killarney apartment, where they gained access to the property while presenting themselves as law enforcement officials.
Witness K testified that she received a call from Stols after the team had entered the apartment and was asked to speak to the owner of the stones.
She said she questioned the owner about permits required to possess the stones and added another individual with mining knowledge to the call. The owner allegedly admitted that he did not have the necessary permits.
Commissioner Sandile Khumalo later put it to Witness K that her concern at the time was stealing the stones rather than whether the owner possessed the required permits. Witness K agreed.
The officers subsequently removed the stones from the apartment.
Witness K told the commission that she later learnt the informer had allegedly tried unsuccessfully to buy the stones from the owner before approaching law enforcement officials.
She said she was unaware of this at the time of the operation. The stones were later handed to the informer, who complained that some were fake and others genuine before agreeing to pay R110,000 for them.
The following day, she received the money and met Mkhwanazi at a car wash.
“After receiving the money, I went to meet Mr Mkhwanazi at a car wash. He then phoned Officer Stols to come to the car wash. We shared the money equally amongst the five of us,” Witness K said.
She said R88,000 was distributed among Mkhwanazi, Stols, McKenzie and Van der Walt, while she kept R22,000.
Evidence leader Advocate Ofentse Mahlasedi referred Witness K to a statement by the owner of the stones, who estimated their value at approximately R14.9 million.
Witness K admitted that she did not know the value of the stones at the time. The commission also heard that the bulk of the Sugilite stones has not been recovered.
Commissioner Sesi Baloyi questioned Witness K about evidence that stones had previously been found in McKenzie’s vehicle, saying this appeared inconsistent with her version that all the stones had been handed to the informer.
Witness K responded that she believed McKenzie may have kept some of the stones, but maintained that the stones were handed over to the informer and that she never took possession of them herself.
The commission also heard evidence of alleged attempts to interfere with the criminal case after officers became aware that the owner had lodged a complaint.
Witness K testified that Stols informed her that investigators from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) were probing the matter and wanted statements from those involved.
WhatsApp messages exchanged between Witness K and Stols were placed before the commission, including one in which Stols allegedly wrote: “We have made plans to sort out DPP that side.”
Witness K testified that she understood the message to mean there were plans to have the case removed from the court roll.
The commission heard that Witness K and Stols exchanged messages in the early hours of the morning while discussing developments in the investigation.
Witness K also agreed with Commissioner Khumalo’s suggestion that she wanted Stols to provide a false version of events after the criminal investigation had begun.
The commission further heard that Witness K was aware her conduct was unlawful.
When Khumalo put it to her that she knew she was breaking the law when she participated in the operation, Witness K agreed.
Commissioners also questioned why she waited approximately six months before coming forward with information about the incident. Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga challenged her explanation that she was not in a position to report the matter earlier, while suggesting that parts of her testimony appeared aimed at self-preservation.
Madlanga remarked during proceedings that the matter appeared to be “a classic case of there being no honour among thieves” as evidence emerged of disputes and conflicting versions among those allegedly involved.
The commission continues.
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