Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officer Keisha Leigh Stols has become the third accused in the alleged robbery of precious stones worth R14.9 million after making her first appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. Stols, who handed herself over to police at the Addendale Police Station on Monday, now faces charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and fraud alongside co-accused Adrian Mackenzie and Etienne van der Walt.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) successfully applied for Stols to be joined as the third accused in the matter. All three accused remain in custody after the case was postponed to 16 July 2026 for the hearing of formal bail applications.
The charges relate to an incident that allegedly occurred on 11 February 2023 at a property in Killarney, Johannesburg.
According to the State, the accused falsely represented themselves as members of a multidisciplinary law enforcement team comprising officials from the EMPD and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks. They allegedly claimed they were investigating suspected lithium smuggling.
Prosecutors allege the three used these false representations to gain access to the premises before assaulting the complainant and threatening those at the property with firearms.
The State further alleges that they stole six boxes containing high-grade sugilite and manganese stones, commonly referred to as precious stones, with an estimated value of approximately R14.9 million.
Investigators also allege that the EMPD officials acted outside the scope of their lawful authority by conducting law enforcement operations within the City of Johannesburg while falsely claiming to have the necessary jurisdiction to do so.
NPA Gauteng spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole confirmed that Stols had been formally added to the case.
“The matter was postponed to 16 July 2026 for the hearing of formal bail applications. All three accused remain in custody pending their next court appearance,” Mohlatlole said.
Background to the arrests
The case is being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), which has been probing allegations that members of law enforcement staged a bogus operation that culminated in the theft of valuable precious stones.
The first breakthrough came on Friday, 3 July 2026, when Adrian Mackenzie was arrested. A day later, Etienne van der Walt was also taken into custody as investigators widened their probe into the alleged robbery.
At the time, IPID revealed that six individuals had been implicated in the case, including members of the EMPD, Gauteng Traffic Police and civilians, and indicated that further arrests were imminent.
That prediction materialised on Monday when Stols handed herself over to police before appearing in court the following day.
The investigation centres on allegations that the accused abused their positions as law enforcement officials to carry out what prosecutors describe as a fake police operation that ended with the theft of precious stones valued at nearly R15 million.
Monday’s court appearance
Mackenzie and Van der Walt made their first appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where the State requested that the matter be postponed to allow for further investigations and for formal bail applications to be prepared.
The court granted the postponement and ordered that both accused remain in custody.
During the proceedings, advocate Laurence Hodes, representing Mackenzie, expressed disappointment that the matter could not proceed with bail immediately, saying his client wanted the issue to be dealt with without unnecessary delays.
Van der Walt was represented by attorney Louise van der Walt, who also indicated that the defence had hoped the matter would proceed sooner but accepted the postponement. The defence teams said they were preparing comprehensive bail applications for next week’s hearing.
Following Stols’ first appearance on Tuesday, the court ordered that she also remain in custody and that her matter proceed together with those of her co-accused.
The prosecution alleges that all three accused acted in concert during the planning and execution of the alleged robbery.
If convicted, they could face lengthy prison sentences, particularly because robbery with aggravating circumstances is regarded as one of South Africa’s most serious violent offences.
The matter is expected to remain under close public scrutiny because it involves serving law enforcement officers accused of abusing their authority to commit serious crimes.
Meanwhile, IPID’s investigation is continuing, and authorities have not ruled out further arrests as investigators pursue other individuals allegedly linked to the alleged Killarney robbery.
