Stols, Mackenzi granted R5000 bail in Killarney precious stones case
Ekurhuleni Metro Police officer Adrian Mackenzie and his co-accused, Kersha-Leigh Stols, have been granted bail in connection with the alleged theft of precious stones worth nearly R15 million in Killarney.
Stols and Mackenzie appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday, where they face charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and fraud.
The State did not oppose bail for the two accused, saying they are not flight risks and have been cooperating with investigators.
In their bail affidavits, both bail applicants implicated suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi in alleged wrongdoing.
During an in-camera appearance before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry last month, Witness K implicated the pair in the unsanctioned operation.
She told the commission that the stones were later sold for R110,000, and the money was divided among five people.
Witness K further told the commission that she was instructed to collect the payment from the buyer before meeting Mkhwanazi at a car wash, where the money was shared.
In court, Stols and Mackenzie corroborated the claim that Mkhwanazi facilitated meetings with Witness K, adding that they handed the precious stones to her.
“After introducing ourselves we confiscated six boxes containing stones. We thereafter had the intention to proceed to the SAPS to book the boxes but were halted when [Julius] Mkhwanazi arrived at the scene and instructed accused one and I to return to the Nando’s in Alberton to meet with witness K… Witness K informed accused one and I that she would take over the investigation from there, as same fell under her jurisdiction as a JMPD officer,” Stols told the court.
BREAKING: The State has withdrawn the charges against businessman Etienne van der Walt (Accused 2) in the case against two Ekurhuleni Metro Police officers accused of robbery and fraud linked to the theft of precious stones worth R15 million in Killarney. pic.twitter.com/jeOhAvczVf
— Jacaranda FM Newswatch (@JacaNewswatch) July 16, 2026
VAN DER WALT CHARGES WITHDRAWN
Earlier, the State withdrew charges against accused number two, businessman Etienne van der Walt, who was arrested alongside Stols and Mackenzie earlier this month.
Van der Walt had been accused of impersonating a police officer during the rogue police operation.
Meanwhile, the court ordered accused one and three to hand over their passports to the investigating officer and report to their nearest police stations every Monday.
The case was postponed to 25 August for further investigations.
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