By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Witness K testified in-camera before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday, saying she came forward to assist the commission in its investigation into the precious stones that were confiscated from a residence in Killarney, Johannesburg.
The Commission has granted an in-camera hearing for Witness K to testify on corruption inside the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) in a case involving stolen precious stones, falsified police records and claims of organised criminal conduct within law enforcement ranks.
Commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga ruled that Witness K will testify in camera due to safety concerns, but the evidence will still be made public through audio broadcast.
The witness’s identity will remain strictly confidential. The arrangement was agreed to by all parties involved.
The commission previously heard about an alleged rogue operation involving officers from the EMPD, during which precious stones were confiscated from a residence in Killarney and later disappeared while in police custody.
EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi allegedly led the unit involved in the operation. Although he has denied involvement, Mkhwanazi admitted that his vehicle was parked outside the residence when the theft took place.
Witness K, a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) inspector attached to the Important Persons Unit, told the commission that after Kesher-Lee Stols, EMPD Constable Norman McKenzie and civilian Eitiaan van der Walt removed the stones from a Killarney property, Stols contacted her and requested a meeting.
She testified that the group met in Cyrildene, Johannesburg, at the home of a friend of informant, Jango Sermon.
The witness further told the commission that van der Walt proposed that the stones be exchanged for R110,000.
Witness K said that during the meeting, Sermon expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the stones, claiming that some appeared to be imitations.
She further testified that after Sermon took possession of the stones, he paid her R110,000 in cash the following day. She added that the money was shared among Stols, McKenzie, Mkhwanazi and van der Walt.
Witness K also told the commission that her romantic relationship with Mkhwanazi, which she said began in late 2022, ended shortly after the incident and they have not been in contact since.
She testified that after she first informed Mkhwanazi about the alleged stones before they were stolen, he became increasingly persistent, urging her to obtain more information while he assembled a team to act on the intelligence.
She said Sermon had initially driven her to a Killarney block of flats where she became aware of the alleged cache of stones, and that she only relayed the information to Mkhwanazi about six months later.
“Sermon pointed out the block of flats to me and and give me the unit number of the the flat where the stones were kept I then gave those derails to Mkhwanazi,” said witness K.
Witness K said she expected Mkhwanazi and his team to proceed to the property to verify the information and forcibly remove the stones from their owner.
She further testified that while Mkhwanazi was serving a suspension in 2023 during his tenure as an EMPD director, he frequently borrowed money from her, beginning just two months into their relationship.
She told the commission she also assisted with school fees for Mkhwanazi’s children.
Witness K said she eventually reached a point where she could no longer provide financial assistance, as her own financial obligations had become overwhelming and had depleted her savings.
The commission also heard evidence relating to WhatsApp messages in which Stols asked Witness K to influence Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) officials to have the case against them dropped.
At the time, Stols, Witness K, Mkhwanazi and McKenzie were facing an internal disciplinary proceedings over the alleged theft of the precious stones.
Witness K said that two months later, the owner of the stones opened a criminal case of theft and said the stones were worth R14 926 412. IPID is investigating the matter.