Johannesburg – Marius van der Merwe, a pivotal witness in the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into police corruption, was tragically killed on Friday evening in Brakpan, Gauteng. The former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officer and private security firm owner was shot outside his home in what was the second attempt on his life in a matter of weeks. He had just returned from a family dinner when two assailants ambushed him as he opened his gate.
Van der Merwe, also known as Witness D, had previously testified at the commission, implicating suspended EMPD chief Julius Mkhwanazi in criminal activities within the police force. His role in exposing police corruption, particularly in relation to organized crime, made him a target. Two weeks ago, Van der Merwe survived an assassination attempt when two men in a bakkie tried to ram him off the road near the demolished Plastic City informal settlement. A gunfight ensued, and he managed to escape unscathed. Reflecting on the incident, Van der Merwe warned that he believed his life was in imminent danger.
Known for his commitment to justice, Van der Merwe was a local hero who fought tirelessly against illegal mining and corruption. Before founding his security company, he had worked in law enforcement, becoming deeply involved in the battle against illegal miners and their impact on communities and infrastructure. He was also one of the first responders to the 2022 Boksburg tanker explosion and the gas explosion in the Angelo informal settlement.
Two weeks before his death, Van der Merwe had publicly acknowledged his role in closing illegal mining shafts in the East Rand to hinder the operations of the notorious Zama Zama syndicates. His actions, which involved significant financial losses for criminal enterprises, likely made him a target of organized crime. Sources close to Van der Merwe’s organization believe that his assassination was tied to his proximity to the leaders of these mining syndicates, who saw him as a threat.
Van der Merwe’s involvement in the Madlanga Commission also put him in danger. He had testified in November that Mkhwanazi had ordered him to dispose of the body of a suspect who died in police custody in 2022. Fearing for his safety, Van der Merwe complied and disposed of the body in a dam.
The murder has sparked fear among other witnesses, with some now worried for their own lives. “We are now fearing for our lives,” one witness said. In response, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has convened an urgent meeting with the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) to discuss how to improve witness protection and enhance the security of commission officials.
Forensic investigator Chad Thomas has pointed to a worrying trend of assassinations, intimidation, and threats being used by criminals to avoid justice, especially in cases involving corruption and organized crime. High-profile killings, such as those of Babita Deokaran and Thomas Murray, underscore the dangers faced by whistleblowers and those working to expose corruption.
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