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Madlanga commission: Ex-officer charged with murder of South African whistleblower 'Witness D'
Matipandile Sotheni, a former SAPS Special Task Force member, faces multiple charges in a case linked to police corruption and the killing of Marius van der Merwe, aka Witness D.
- On Monday, Matipandile Sotheni, a former SAPS officer, appeared in Brakpan Magistrate's Court after his arrest on Saturday, charged over the December 2025 killing of Marius van der Merwe.
- Van der Merwe testified at the Madlanga Commission in early November 2025, alleging SAPS and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department officers tortured Emmanuel Mbhense to death and Julius Mkhwanazi ordered the body dumped, prompting officer suspensions.
- Shortly after 8pm, at least two men approached and opened fire outside Van der Merwe's Brakpan home, with police seizing the vehicle believed used and indicating an AK-47 was involved, and Sotheni is accused of firing the fatal shot, which he allegedly did from a seized Suzuki Swift; police say Pretorius later died by suicide, and they are still searching for the firearm.
- A schedule 6 certificate was issued, making bail more difficult for Sotheni, who is remanded and scheduled for a bail hearing on 25 March 2026, with investigations led by the Madlanga Task Team.
- The case links to Emmanuel Mbense's 2022 death, with three of the 12 implicated individuals having since died, and investigators conducting search-and-seizure operations, said Mathe.
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11 Articles
11 Articles
Alleged Witness D’s killer is highly trained shooter, has ‘lethal’ skills
Matipandile Sotheni, a former police officer and special task force member, is accused of murdering Marius Van Der Merwe, also known as Witness D, after he testified at the Madlanga commission.
·Johannesburg, South Africa
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South Africa: Former Police Official Charged With Killing Madlanga Commission Witness
Matipandile Sotheni, 41, a former police special task force member, appeared in the Brakpan Magistrate's Court on 16 February 2026. Sotheni faces murder, attempted murder and conspiracy charges linked to the December 2025 killing of cop Marius van der Merwe.
·South Africa
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Witness D murder suspect charged with multiple crimes, bail hearing delayed
Police claim that Wiandre Pretorius was the driver of the vehicle from which Matipandile Sotheni shot and killed Marius van der Merwe shortly after his explosive testimony about corruption and murder cover-ups before the Madlanga Commission.
·South Africa
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left1Leaning Right2Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Center
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources are Center
57% Center
14%
C 57%
R 29%
Factuality
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