WATCH | Julius Mkhwanazi, ex-lover granted R5,000 bail in R14.9m precious stones case

Julius Mkhwanazi

Johannesburg – Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and his former romantic partner, a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer known as Witness K, have been granted R5,000 bail each by the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.

The pair were arrested last week on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, fraud and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

They are accused of being involved in the alleged theft of sugilite and manganese stones worth R14.9 million from a Johannesburg apartment in February 2023.

The court ruled that neither posed a flight risk. As part of their bail conditions, they are prohibited from contacting state witnesses and must report to their nearest police stations weekly.

The case has been postponed to 25 August, when they are expected to appear alongside two other accused.

In an affidavit, Mkhwanazi claimed Witness K falsely implicated him out of bitterness after their relationship ended. He denied the allegations, saying they were motivated by personal resentment, The Citizen reported.

Witness K previously told the Madlanga Commission that the robbery was committed after she could no longer afford to pay Mkhwanazi’s personal expenses, including groceries, legal fees and his children’s school fees, the report said.

Mkhwanazi is also facing separate criminal cases involving the alleged unlawful installation of blue lights on vehicles linked to alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, as well as fraud and corruption charges related to a traffic violation matter.

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