Inside the Alleged R3.2 Million Jewellery Heist at Durban’s Gateway Mall
It started with just three missing watches. But what seemed like a small discrepancy at Premjis Jewellers in Gateway Shopping Centre soon grew into a court case involving six women accused of allegedly stealing jewellery worth more than R3.2 million.
The matter is now before the Durban Magistrate’s Court, where two managers and four sales representatives from the jewellery store are facing charges. All six women, aged between 28 and 61 and hailing from Phoenix, Avoca, Umdloti, Verulam, and Umngeni Park, have pleaded not guilty. They were arrested in September 2023 and released on bail of R20,000 each.
Alleged Manipulation of Jewellery Stock Sparks Court Case in Durban
According to testimony presented in court, the first warning came in June 2023. A sales representative noticed the missing Michel Herbelin watches and reported it to management. Initially, the loss seemed minor, but an internal review quickly revealed more serious discrepancies in the jewellery store.
Vishnu Pather, the director of Premjis Jewellers, told the court that the investigation uncovered a trail of alleged manipulation going back several years, possibly as far as 2018. The State claims the accused deliberately relabelled high-value items with lower-value tags, making them easier to remove without detection. Some pieces were reportedly assigned duplicate stock codes, adding further confusion to the jewellery store’s inventory system.
“The fact that this happened, I felt very hurt,” Pather said in court. “It alarmed me. Only after a detailed investigation did I understand the scale of what allegedly occurred in the jewellery store.”
The allegations paint a picture of a coordinated operation, with stock sheets allegedly falsified and proceeds from missing jewellery unaccounted for. According to the State, the scheme was carefully planned and sustained over the years, involving both managers and sales representatives.
The defence, however, strongly contests these claims. Several of the accused argued that they were not present during critical stock-takes, while others stated they had already left the company when discrepancies were discovered. Some pointed to alleged irregularities in the investigation, including claims that their constitutional rights may have been violated and that evidence was mishandled.
The court is expected to examine not only the accused’s actions but also the internal controls of the jewellery business. Cases of this nature often hinge on meticulous record-keeping, credibility of witnesses, and the systems designed to prevent such losses.
Retail theft, particularly in stores handling high-value goods, depends on trust and layered oversight. When these controls fail—or are allegedly bypassed—the fallout can be significant for both businesses and staff. This case highlights the challenges retailers face in balancing operational trust with effective security measures.
For now, the court has heard only part of the evidence. All six women maintain their innocence, and the trial is expected to continue later this year. The outcome will depend on how the court weighs the allegations against the defence claims, in a case that began with a few missing watches and has escalated into a multimillion-rand legal battle.
The story serves as a reminder of the complexities behind retail theft investigations and the ripple effects on employees, management, and customers alike.
The case has also sparked wider discussions about security and oversight in the jewellery retail sector. Experts say that high-value stores face unique challenges, as even small lapses in stock control or tagging can lead to significant losses.
Jewellery, by its nature, is portable and highly valuable, making rigorous inventory systems and regular audits essential. Industry insiders note that cases like this often lead to stronger internal controls and increased staff training, but they also highlight the delicate balance between trust and vigilance in workplaces handling expensive items.
