Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and his co-accused, known as Witness K at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, have each been granted bail of R5,000 by the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court.
The pair face charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery with aggravating circumstances and fraud in connection with the alleged theft of precious stones worth nearly R15 million from a Johannesburg property in 2023.
Witness K, a former Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer and Mkhwanazi's former girlfriend, previously testified before the Madlanga Commission that she and Mkhwanazi had planned the robbery.
In delivering the ruling, Magistrate Anelisa Tlhapi said the court had decided to grant bail on the same terms as those imposed on other accused already released in the matter.
"The court has considered granting bail in the amount of R5,000 each, the same as the applicants who have already been released on bail," Tlhapi said.
As part of their bail conditions, Mkhwanazi and Witness K are prohibited from communicating with State witnesses, either directly or indirectly, and may not interfere with or intimidate any witnesses involved in the case.
They have also been ordered to report regularly to their respective police stations while the case is before the courts.
The matter relates to the alleged theft of precious stones valued at close to R15 million, with investigations into the case continuing.