Second suspect arrested in R15 million precious stones theft case
· The South African
A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the alleged theft of precious stones worth nearly R15 million.
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The suspect was arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) after he handed himself in to the Edenvale Police Station on Sunday, 5 July 2026.
This follows the arrest of an Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) official on Friday in Benoni, after he was linked to the case.
WITNESS K TESTIMONY AT MADLANGA COMMISSION
The arrests come after Witness K alleged during her testimony before the Madlanga Commission last month, that precious stones were stolen during a raid she was part of at an apartment in Killarney, Johannesburg in 2023.
Witness K stated that the suspended EMPD Chief Julius Mkhwanazi allegedly orchestrated the theft, claiming he was under financial strain.
She further alleged that the robbery was carried out under the guise of a police operation and that an apartment was identified where precious stones were being stored.
SUSPECTS TO APPEAR IN COURT
IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping revealed that the suspects will appear in court on Monday and the search for the third suspect is underway.
”The second suspect handed himself in at the Edenvale Police Station just after 18:00. The suspects will appear before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 6 July 2026,” said Suping.
Suping added that the investigation into the alleged theft of precious stones initially involved six suspects, but one has since died.
He said the remaining suspects include three members of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), one Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer, and a businessman who allegedly posed as a police officer during the raid.
“When the precious stones investigation began, there were 6 suspects, and one has since died. Three were from EMPD, one from JMPD, and a businessman who allegedly presented himself as a police officer during the alleged raid,” said Suping.
(1/2) IPID, together with members of TRT has arrested a JMPD officer based at the VIP unit for his alleged involvement in a theft of precious stones in Killarney. It is alleged that members of EMPD, JMPD and Gauteng Traffic allegedly seached and raided a house without a warrant.
— Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID (@RSA_IPID) July 5, 2026
Suping said the suspects face a charge of corruption because EMPD officers allegedly conducted an investigation outside their jurisdiction and failed to register the exhibits in the South African Police Service (SAPS) occurrence book.