By Palesa Matlala
- IPID has arrested two Ekurhuleni Metro Police officers over the alleged theft of R14.9 million in precious stones in Killarney.
- Suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi, already facing separate fraud charges this week, remains central to the jewel theft probe.
Two Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officers are due in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court after being arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). They face corruption-related charges linked to the alleged theft of precious stones worth R14.9 million during a fake police raid in Killarney, Johannesburg, in 2023.
IPID alleges the officers and several others pretended to be part of a legitimate police operation before raiding a private home without a search warrant. The precious stones were never booked into police evidence. Instead, they were allegedly sold for just R110,000.
Six people allegedly took part in the operation, according to IPID. One suspect was arrested on Friday and a second handed himself over to police on Sunday. A former EMPD officer remains on the run, and IPID is preparing arrest warrants for two more suspects.
Suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi remains a central figure in the investigation, though he has not been arrested in this matter. He is separately facing fraud and corruption charges this week alongside Ekurhuleni City Manager Kagiso Lerutla, in an unrelated case before the Boksburg Regional Court.
A Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department officer known only as Witness K told the Madlanga Commission the jewel operation was planned as a robbery, not a genuine raid. She said she received R22,000 from the sale, while the remaining R88,000 was shared between Mkhwanazi and other suspects.
Alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala will no longer testify before the commission on Tuesday. His lawyers are expected to attend in his place. He recently suffered a legal setback after the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court rejected his plea agreement with the state.
The commission will also continue hearing evidence relating to suspended Deputy Crime Intelligence head Major General Feroz Khan, who remains in hospital after surviving a shooting earlier this month.
Pictured above: Suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi remains one of the central figures in the investigation into the alleged R14.9 million precious stones robbery.
Image source: File
