PRETORIA - Witness K has implicated suspended Deputy EMPD chief Julius Mkhwanazi in the theft of precious stones.
The woman is testifying partially in-camera before the Madlanga Commission. She has in detail described the 2023 theft of R14.9 million in precious stones from Rosebank.
The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) inspector admitted her role in the theft, and outlined how the stones were to be seized unlawfully from their owner.
She was Mkhwanazi’s girlfriend at the time. The two met in 2022 and began dating later that year. She said Mkhwanazi would frequently ask for financial assistance.
Witness K told the Commission when she could no longer borrow Mkhwanazi money, he asked her to keep her ear to the ground and pass any information that involved money onto him.
LIVESTREAM | Witness K testifying remotely
"I then remembered information that I had previously received from an informant about illegal stones in possession of someone at a block of flats in Killarney," Witness K testified. She informed Mkhwanazi about the stones.
She said sometime in January or early February 2023, Mkhwanazi became persistent about getting the information on the stones and continually followed up with her to get in touch with the person who wanted them to steal the precious stones.
Witness K said she managed to get in touch with the informant and relayed the details of where the stones were being kept to Mkhwanazi.
When quizzed about what Mkhwanazi was supposed to do with the information, Witness K said Mkhwanazi was supposed to get people to go and rob the owner.
"If they were there, they needed to steal them," Witness K testified.
"Each of us had our roles to play, I had to organise the informer, secure information as to the whereabouts of the stones and to ensure that the informer was ready to receive the stones and make payment after they got the stone."
Mkhwanazi's role was to organise the officers who would go and steal the stones, Witness K testified.
Witness K's testimony continues