Johannesburg – The two remaining suspects in the theft of precious stones worth about R15 million from an apartment in Killarney have been arrested.
Initially, there were six suspects in the robbery several years ago, allegedly involved officers from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), Johannesburg Metro Police Department, and Gauteng Traffic Police, and a businessman.
One has since died.
Three of the suspects in the precious stones case appeared in court during the week.
Two of the accused, Kersha Stoltz, a former EMPD officer, and suspended EMPD officer Adriaan McKenzie, were released on R5 000 bail each.
Charges against businessman Etienne van der Walt’s were withdrawn after he made representations to the prosecution.
Earlier on Friday, 17 July 2026, police embarked on a search for two remaining suspects in the robbery case.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Spokesperson Lizzy Suping said one of the two remaining suspects in the raid and seizure of precious stones from a property in Killarney, Johannesburg, in 2023, had been arrested.
In a later update on the matter, Suping said that “the second suspect has finally been arrested at a house in Kensington just before 8pm”.
Although the police did not identify the suspects, reports named suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanai and “Witness K” as the individuals arrested.
Witness K, a JMPD officer, confessed to her role in the robbery at the ongoing Madlanga Commission and also implicated Mkhwanazi, with whom she said she had a romantic relationship at the time.
Mkhwanazi was out on bail for two other matters when he was arrested in Kensington.
The suspended EMPD deputy chief is out on R50 000 bail in a case in which he is accused of unlawfully facilitating the fitting of blue lights to cars belonging to crime-accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Mkhwanazi is also out on R30 000 bail in a case in which he is accused of assisting Ekurhuleni Municipal Manager Kagiso Lerutla to avoid a court appearance by allegedly recruiting an impersonator.
Mkhwanazi and “Witness K” will appear before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 20 July 2026.
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