Marius van der Merwe
Marius van der Merwe was a former official of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) and security industry member based in Brakpan, Gauteng. He testified before the Madlanga Commission as “Witness D” on 14 November 2025, exposing EMPD corruption and implicating police officials in the torture and murder of a robbery suspect. He was shot dead outside his Brakpan home on 5 December 2025 — three weeks after his testimony — in full view of his family. His murder caused national outrage and became emblematic of the dangers faced by commission witnesses.
Madlanga Commission testimony (14 November 2025): Van der Merwe appeared as “Witness D” before the commission. His testimony:
- Implicated police officials in the torture and murder of robbery suspect Emmanuel Mbense, who died in April 2022 (a case “shrouded in mystery” until Van der Merwe’s disclosure)
- Exposed corruption within the EMPD, including allegations against Metro deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi (no relation to KZN Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi)
Julius Mkhwanazi suspension: On 11 November 2025 — days before Van der Merwe’s testimony — Julius Mkhwanazi (EMPD deputy chief) was suspended after earlier testimony at the commission linked him to alleged corruption, fraud, fabrication of municipal agreements, illegal use of blue-light equipment by private security companies, and running a “rogue unit” allegedly involved in violent crime, extortion and hijackings. Van der Merwe’s testimony corroborated and extended this.
Witness protection refused: Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi disclosed that Van der Merwe had declined the witness protection offered by the Madlanga Commission, stating he relied on his own security company and did not need state protection.
Murder (5 December 2025): Van der Merwe was shot multiple times outside his home in Brakpan on the evening of Friday 5 December 2025 in full view of his family. President Ramaphosa: “They faced death in circumstances that suggest Van der Merwe’s brave testimony angered elements in our society who want to undermine the rule of law.” Ramaphosa extended condolences and condemned the attack as “heinous.”
Prosecution: Matipandile Sotheni (41), a former SAPS Special Task Force member who joined in 2005 (the state invested ~R1 million in his specialised training), was arrested on 14 March 2026 — the first breakthrough from the specialised task team Ramaphosa established after the commission’s first interim report (17 December 2025). Sotheni faces six charges: conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and three counts of attempted murder against Van der Merwe’s family members present at the scene. Investigators believe Sotheni carried out the assassination under instructions: “They knew he would do a clean job — only one shot killed Witness D.” The mastermind remains at large as of April 2026. Van der Merwe’s testimony had specifically implicated Julius Mkhwanazi (EMPD deputy chief) as providing cartel figure Vusimuzi Matlala access to the EMPD. Three of the twelve people implicated in Emmanuel Mbense’s killing have since also died. The Madlanga Commission welcomed Sotheni’s arrest.
Connections
- Madlanga Commission — testified as Witness D on 14 November 2025; his murder prompted commission statement and task team arrest
- Julius Mkhwanazi (EMPD) — central subject of Van der Merwe’s testimony; Van der Merwe alleged Mkhwanazi gave Matlala access to the EMPD
- Vusimuzi Matlala — implicated via Julius Mkhwanazi (EMPD); Van der Merwe’s testimony linked Matlala to EMPD corruption network
- Cyril Ramaphosa — Ramaphosa personally condemned the murder; established the task team that made the arrest