Mkhwanazi claims 'heartbroken' Witness K fabricated allegations after failed romance
Suspended Ekurhuleni metro police deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi has claimed that a “devastated” Witness K implicated him in the alleged theft of precious stones worth nearly R15 million after he ended their romance.
The claim is contained in Mkhwanazi's affidavit filed in support of his bail application before the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court, where he and Witness K appeared separately on Monday following their arrest on Friday.
The pair face charges linked to the alleged theft of precious stones from a Killarney businessman in 2023.
The State alleges the stones were unlawfully seized during what was presented to the complainant as a police operation.
Witness K previously testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where she implicated Mkhwanazi in the alleged operation.
In his affidavit, Mkhwanazi said he and Witness K were romantically involved in early 2023.
He claimed she was deeply in love with him and believed their relationship would ultimately lead to marriage, adding that he had fuelled those expectations during their relationship.
According to Mkhwanazi, he later decided that Witness K was not the life partner he was looking for and ended the relationship after hearing that she was allegedly romantically involved with another police officer.
He claims Witness K was "emotionally distraught and devastated" by the breakup and believes this is the reason she later implicated him before the commission.
"I believe this to be the primary motive in fabricating her evidence to the commission, insofar as she has implicated me with the spurious criminal acts which now form the basis of the charges being preferred against me."
Mkhwanazi further claimed that before their relationship ended, Witness K had told him that an informant had reported a cache of what were believed to be fake gemstones at an apartment in Johannesburg.
He said there had also been reports on social media of members of the public allegedly being scammed through the sale of fake stones.
According to Mkhwanazi, he instructed officers to investigate the information and seize what were believed to be counterfeit gemstones. He said he briefly stopped near the scene during the operation to receive an update from officers before leaving.
Mkhwanazi said he only later learnt that precious stones had been recovered and that experts would need to determine whether they were genuine.
He has denied allegations that he instructed officers to sell any of the seized stones or that he benefited from their alleged sale.
"I emphatically deny any allegation... that I arranged and/or instructed or was even aware that some or more of the stones had been sold."
Mkhwanazi also argued that earlier statements made by his co-accused did not implicate him and alleged that they only later changed their versions.
He further referred to WhatsApp exchanges disclosed during the Madlanga Commission, claiming they show discussions between Witness K and another accused about their statements to investigators.
According to Mkhwanazi, the messages make no mention of his alleged involvement in the offences.
Maintaining his innocence, Mkhwanazi said he intends to plead not guilty and expressed confidence that he would be acquitted at trial.
The State is not opposing bail.
The matter was postponed until Tuesday, when the State and the defence are expected to present closing arguments before the court rules on the bail applications.
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