Witness K lawyer shocked by Mkhwanazi’s lovers’ quarrel claims

The legal representative of Witness K in the precious stone theft case says he was shocked by embattled Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief, Julius Mkhwanazi’s, claim that the matter stemmed from a lovers’ quarrel gone wrong.

Mkhwanazi and Witness K returned to the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges linked to the alleged theft of precious stones worth R14.9 million during a bogus raid in Killarney in 2023.

The pair has been granted bail of R5000 each.

Witness K, a 40-year-old JMPD officer, previously told the Madlanga Commission that Mkhwanazi orchestrated the alleged robbery.

Mkhwanazi has, however, denied the allegations, claiming the accusations are motivated by the breakdown of their romantic relationship.

In an affidavit before the court, Mkhwanazi revealed that he and Witness K were in a relationship in 2023, before ended it after deciding she was not the life partner he is looking for.

Witness K’s lawyer, Oscar Thovhakale, said he was surprised by the claims, arguing they are irrelevant to the criminal case.

“It came as a shock, more so considering the fact that it was not even necessary and relevant to the case. But I don’t have any comment in relation to that. I don’t have any instructions on that.

“I don’t know her boyfriend. I don’t know whether she was dating the co-accused. I don’t know what went wrong.”

The matter has been postponed to 25 August.

This is not Mkhwanazi’s only brush with the law. He is also facing corruption and fraud charges alongside several current and former Ekurhuleni officials, including suspended Head of Legal, Advocate Kemi Behari, former City Manager, Imogen Mashazi, and the city’s Head of Human Resources, Linda Gxasheka.

The charges stem from allegations that Mkhwanazi was shielded from disciplinary action after allegedly assisting alleged underworld kingpin, Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, by unlawfully registering four of his VIP protection vehicles as EMPD Vehicles.

In a separate matter, Mkhwanazi and Ekurhuleni City Manager, Kagiso Lerutla, face charges of fraud, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice over an alleged R400,000 identity-swap scheme linked to Lerutla’s 2019 arrest for speeding.

GRANTED BAIL | EMPD Deputy Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi and JMPD Officer, Kgomotso Makhubu in the theft of precious stones in Killarney, Johannesburg, in 2023, were today granted R5 000 bail each by the Johannesburg Magistrate Court.

They were arrested by IPID and TRT in…

— Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (@CrimeWatch_RSA) July 21, 2026