Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and his co-accused, former lover Witness K, have each been granted R5,000 bail by the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.
The pair face charges linked to the alleged theft of precious stones worth R15 million from a Killarney property in 2023, in what the State alleges was a police operation staged to conceal the crime.
Delivering her ruling, Magistrate Annelese Tlhapi imposed strict bail conditions.
“The bail conditions are as follows: the accused must not communicate with State witnesses, directly or indirectly, and must not interfere with or intimidate any witnesses,” she said.
Tlhapi also ordered both accused to surrender their passports to the investigating officer or the prosecution.
Mkhwanazi must report to Brackendown Police Station every Monday between 6am and 6pm, while Witness K must report to Alberton Police Station during the same hours.
The case has been postponed to 25 August for further investigation.
