Two accused in Killarney R15m precious stones raid to apply for bail

Two men accused of taking precious stones worth nearly R15 million in an alleged unlawful 2023 raid on a Killarney apartment in Johannesburg will return to court on 16 July for a bail application, authorities said.

Arrests and court appearance

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) arrested one suspect on Friday, while a second suspect, a private security firm owner, handed himself in on Sunday. Both appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with the February 2023 raid.

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officer Adrian MacKenzie was the person arrested on Friday, and Etienne van der Walt is the private security firm owner who surrendered, the sources stated. The pair will be held at the Benoni police station until their next court date.

Allegations and charges

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate described the 2023 operation as unlawful and said the suspects face a corruption charge connected to the alleged raid and seizure of precious stones. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has stated that six boxes of sugilite and manganese stones, valued at R14.9 million, were taken.

The NPA alleges that the accused and others carried out an armed raid in which they threatened the apartment’s occupant with assault before removing the stones. Authorities say the group falsely represented themselves as members of a multi-disciplinary law enforcement team comprising EMPD and Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation officers, and misrepresented that they were authorised to conduct law enforcement operations in Johannesburg.

The state noted that the EMPD’s jurisdiction is limited to Ekurhuleni, and alleges the true purpose of the operation was to unlawfully deprive the complainant of the precious stones.

Investigations and wider concerns

Ipid is continuing its investigation into the incident. A witness before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry last month implicated a suspended EMPD deputy chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, as the orchestrator of the raid.

The allegations involving law enforcement impersonation, the alleged theft of valuable stones and the arrest of a suspended EMPD officer raise questions about misconduct and corruption within parts of the policing environment. In Johannesburg, where public confidence in law enforcement and demands for accountability are ongoing issues, the case is likely to draw close attention as proceedings continue.

What happens next

The two accused are due back in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on 16 July for their bail hearing. Investigations by Ipid and related prosecutorial decisions remain ongoing.