MKHWANAZI GRILLED: ‘NO, NO, NO’ DENIAL HAUNTS EMPD CHIEF AS MADLANGA HEARS OF R14.9M STONES HEIST, FRAUDULENT POLICE CLEARANCE

Commissioner Khumalo: ‘Stop playing games.’ Suspended deputy chief admits Cat Matlala clearance was fake, denies R110K car wash payout as Witness K ties him to Killarney theft

Suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi listens to proceedings at the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria, 24 June 2026, where he was accused of lying about knowing Witness K and grilled over the R14.9 million Killarney precious stones theft.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief

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PRETORIA, 24 June 2026– Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi was repeatedly accused of lying under oath at the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday after transcripts showed he denied knowing JMPD officer Witness K, the central figure in a R14.9 million precious stones theft case.

“Your answer was ‘no, no, no’. Three noes,” Commission Chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga told Mkhwanazi during questioning at the Bridgette Mabandla Justice College.

Evidence leader Adv. Mahlape Sello presented Mkhwanazi’s 15 April testimony where he denied knowing Witness K. On Wednesday, Mkhwanazi said he thought the question referred to communication, not acquaintance.

Commissioner Sandile Khumalo rejected the explanation: “Either you were not truthful then, or you are not truthful now. The question was very clear.”

“You have to stop playing games,” Khumalo said. “This is a serious commission of inquiry. If you are asked a question, you answer it – and you answer it truthfully – because you’ve taken an oath.”

The commission heard testimony earlier this week from Witness K, a JMPD VIP Protection Unit inspector. She said she and Mkhwanazi were romantically involved from late 2022. She testified that after her savings were exhausted, Mkhwanazi told her to “keep my ear to the ground” for money-making opportunities.

Witness K said this led to a 11 February 2023 operation at Peter Prinsloo’s Killarney, Johannesburg apartment, where precious stones valued at R14.9 million were seized.

She testified that R110,000 from the sale of the stones was divided among five people: herself, Mkhwanazi, EMPD officers Kersha-Leigh Stols and Aiden McKenzie, and private security owner Etienne van der Walt. She said the money was shared at a car wash the day after the operation.

Mkhwanazi denied the allegations. “I deny meeting at the car wash. I don’t know which car wash. I deny anything that has to do with money.” He said the stones were handed over to JMPD after Prinsloo allegedly admitted he had no permits for them.

Statements before the commission from McKenzie, Stols, and Van der Walt describe a JMPD officer – Witness K – providing intelligence, speaking to Prinsloo by telephone during the search, and taking possession of the seized stones and SAPS documentation.

“I personally saw the boxes being placed into the boot of her vehicle,” Van der Walt said in his statement. “I also heard her state that she would provide the SAP13 exhibit number.”

Commissioner Khumalo told Mkhwanazi: “As commissioners, at the end of the day, we are going to have to weigh your evidence against Witness K’s evidence… because you say she’s not telling the truth and she has given a version which differs materially from yours, it means we must form a view that one of you is lying. And once we have formed that view, consequences will follow.”

Mkhwanazi also admitted on Wednesday that a police clearance certificate he forwarded for Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala to join the Ekurhuleni Peace Corps was fraudulent.

SAPS submitted an affidavit stating the certificate purportedly issued to Matlala had discrepancies in the transaction and inquiry numbers, was originally issued to another person, and that no application had been received from Matlala.

SAPS records showed Matlala had prior convictions for housebreaking and theft with a four-year sentence.

“It is a fraudulent document. I agree … I can’t contest that,” Mkhwanazi said. 

He said Medicare24 CEO Mike van Wyk sent him the certificate. Mkhwanazi said he did not evaluate it and forwarded it to the EMPD training division. He said the Peace Corps was meant to assist with traffic management and community events due to staff shortages.

Mkhwanazi is out on R30,000 bail with Ekurhuleni City Manager Kagiso Lerutla in a separate case involving allegations of impersonation in an excessive speeding matter.