Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi has been arrested in connection with the alleged theft of precious stones worth nearly R15 million.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate arrested Mkhwanazi at a Johannesburg property on Friday evening after obtaining a warrant for his arrest. Reports differ on the suburb where the arrest took place, with Bedfordview and Kensington both named.
His former girlfriend, a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department inspector known publicly as Witness K, was arrested earlier on Friday at her Gauteng home.
The arrests relate to an alleged bogus police operation at a Killarney apartment in February 2023, during which gemstones valued at approximately R14.9 million were allegedly removed.
Witness K linked Mkhwanazi to alleged operation
Witness K testified in camera before the Madlanga Commission that she gave Mkhwanazi information received from an informant about gemstones allegedly stored at the apartment.
She alleged that Mkhwanazi subsequently sent EMPD officers Adrian MacKenzie and Kersha-Leigh Stols to retrieve the stones while presenting the incident as an official police operation.
Security company owner Etienne van der Walt allegedly accompanied the officers. CCTV footage reportedly placed MacKenzie, Stols and Van der Walt at the apartment, while Mkhwanazi was allegedly seen outside the property.
Witness K claimed that the group later met at another property, where a price for the gemstones was negotiated.
She testified that she received R110,000 for the stones on 12 February 2023, kept R22,000 and allegedly handed the remaining money to Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi previously denied planning the theft and described the incident as a joint operation involving the EMPD, JMPD and Gauteng Traffic Department. However, reports said he could not provide evidence supporting that version.
Officers allegedly acted without a warrant
Evidence presented before the commission indicated that the officers did not have a warrant to enter the apartment or remove the stones.
Questions were also raised about EMPD officers operating outside their jurisdiction and conducting an investigation in Johannesburg.
Mkhwanazi previously acknowledged that sending EMPD officers into another jurisdiction was improper, although he continued to dispute allegations that the operation was intended as a robbery.
IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping said investigators had initially obtained five arrest warrants in connection with the matter.
MacKenzie and Stols were each released on R5,000 bail and have reportedly been suspended from the EMPD pending the outcome of the case.
Charges against Van der Walt were previously withdrawn.
Mkhwanazi and Witness K are expected to appear in court on Monday on charges related to fraud and theft.
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