Third accused in Killarney precious stones heist added to schedule six bail hearing

Suspect handed herself to police and appeared in court

Kersha-Leigh Stols appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court after handing herself in to police on Monday. The state applied to have her added to the case involving Adrian MacKenzie and Etienne van der Walt, and the magistrate confirmed the bail appearance would be a schedule six hearing.

What schedule six means

The magistrate said the accused must show exceptional circumstances that warrant release on bail at the schedule six application, which was postponed to 16 July.

Where the accused are being held

MacKenzie and Van der Walt are being detained in the holding cells at Benoni police station until the bail hearing. Stols is being held at the Johannesburg correctional facility (Sun City).

Stols’ defence attorney told the court that she handed herself to authorities after the defence team established contact with detectives. He also signalled his intention to raise the differences in detention venues during the bail applications.

Allegations from the 2023 Killarney incident

The three accused are among a group alleged to have robbed a man in Killarney in 2023 of six boxes of sugilite and manganese stones valued at R14.9 million. The state alleges the group carried out an armed raid, threatening the man with assault before taking the stones.

Investigations and charges

Independent Investigative Police Directorate (IPID) spokesperson Lizzy Suping said other suspects are being sought in connection with the incident. To date, three suspects have been arrested, and the arrest of the remaining two of the five suspects is imminent, she said.

Suping stated the suspects are facing a charge of corruption because of their unlawful conduct in the alleged raid and seizure of the precious stones. A sixth individual was allegedly involved but is believed to have died in October 2025.