Julius Mkhwanazi Claims Witness K Wanted Marriage As He Fights R14.9 Million Precious Stones Case

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi has told the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court that Witness K wanted to marry him, as he continued to deny any involvement in the alleged theft of precious stones worth R14.9 million.

The allegations surfaced on Monday during his bail application. Mkhwanazi is among several accused facing charges linked to the alleged theft of high-grade sugilite and manganese stones during a 2023 operation in Killarney, Johannesburg.

State prosecutor Nceba Ntelwa previously told the court that the State would not oppose bail. Prosecutors said there was no evidence that Mkhwanazi or his co-accused would evade trial, interfere with witnesses or fail to stand trial, noting that they had cooperated with investigators.

Mkhwanazi and Witness K, an inspector attached to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department’s (JMPD) VIP Protection Unit, were arrested during an intelligence-driven operation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on Friday. Mkhwanazi was arrested at a home in Kensington shortly before 8pm, while Witness K was arrested earlier in Alberton.

The arrests followed evidence presented during the bail hearing of EMPD officer Adrian MacKenzie and former EMPD officer Kersha-Leigh Stols. They allegedly claimed they acted on Mkhwanazi’s instructions during the incident involving the stolen stones.

During Thursday’s proceedings, prosecutors withdrew the charges against businessman Etienne van der Walt. MacKenzie and Stols were subsequently granted bail of R5,000 each.

Julius Mkhwanazi Denies Involvement In Alleged Precious Stones Theft

When the matter resumed on Monday, Witness K appeared in court with her face covered by a scarf. She indicated that she feared for her safety.

Represented by advocate Shafique Sarlie, Mkhwanazi rejected claims that he planned, instructed or had any knowledge of the alleged sale of the stolen stones. He also denied receiving any money from the transaction, which allegedly involved a buyer introduced by Witness K and a payment of R110,000.

“I further deny receiving any portion of the proceeds of what clearly would have been a theft of such seized items,” he said.

Mkhwanazi told the court that statements previously made by his co-accused during the commission of inquiry did not implicate him. He argued that the allegations linking him to the offences only emerged recently.

“The State will no doubt confirm that in statements earlier made by all three my co-accused, which statements were made available to me at the commission, they did not implicate me at all in the commission of any offence,” he said.

“They did not, as they have recently fabricated, state that I was involved in the unlawful sale of the stones and the sharing of the R110,000 payment.”

He also questioned the financial logic behind the allegations.

“Again, I pause here to comment on the absurdity of the notion that I would be involved in a scheme where gemstones worth almost R15 million were sold for a mere R110,000, receiving, as the witnesses fabricate, a paltry R22,000 from such criminal actions.”

Witness K Relationship Claims Surface During Bail Hearing

Mkhwanazi confirmed that he and Witness K had been in a romantic relationship from February 2023. He alleged that she expected their relationship to lead to marriage.

“I was romantically involved with a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department officer. She is Witness K, who testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.”

“I am loath and hesitate to reveal intimate details of my personal life, especially given the media attention my matters have received, but candidly must reveal that (Witness K) was very much in love with me and, I daresay, held hopes that we would marry, which hopes I admittedly had fuelled.”

According to Mkhwanazi, he later ended the relationship after hearing she was romantically involved with a Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) officer. He claimed that decision prompted Witness K to falsely implicate him.

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“Despite her desperate protests to the contrary, and that she was deeply in love with me, (Witness K) was emotionally distraught and devastated when I jilted her.”

“I believe this to be the primary motive in fabricating her evidence to the commission, insofar as she has implicated me with the spurious crimi   nal acts which now form the basis of the charges being preferred against me.”

Witness K Previously Told Commission About Financial Support For Julius Mkhwanazi

During her testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in June, Witness K described the relationship differently. She said they met in 2022 and started dating the following year after Mkhwanazi had already been suspended from the EMPD.

She testified that Mkhwanazi regularly asked her for financial assistance and failed to repay her. According to her evidence, she paid for groceries, legal fees, disciplinary proceedings and school fees for his children until she could no longer afford to help.

“His requests for financial assistance were very frequent and, despite promising to do so, he did not pay me back. As his girlfriend, I made plans to assist him with groceries, paying for his legal fees and his disciplinary case at work, and helping him pay the school fees for his three children. However, things got to a point where I was no longer able to assist him financially.”

Witness K also told the commission that their relationship deteriorated after money linked to the matter had been distributed. She said they eventually stopped communicating.

Her lawyer, Oscar Thovhakale, informed the court that she acknowledged the charges against her. Magistrate Annelise Tlhapi postponed the case until Tuesday for final arguments in the bail application and a ruling on bail.