Murder of Madlanga Commission witness is ‘an assault on democracy’

Madlanga Commission's 'Witness D': 'I only have a few days left'

Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe, also known as “Witness D” in the Madlanga Commission, shared his concerns about a hit on his life after his whistleblower testimony last month. The former Ekhuruleni Metro Police officer, who later opened his own private security company, was shot and killed outside his Brakpan home on Friday, 5 December. His death is believed to have been an assassination after he divulged information about alleged police corruption…

Murder of Madlanga Commission witness is ‘an assault on democracy’

The murder of Marius van der Merwe raises serious concerns about the safety of whistle-blowers in South Africa.

Mkhwanazi claims he had nothing to do with whistleblower's murder

By Dylan Bettencourt Marius van der Merwe, who appeared as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission, was shot dead outside his Brakpan home on Friday night after testifying against Mkhwanazi. Van der Merwe told the commission that Mkhwanazi helped cover up the torture and death of a robbery suspect and told him to dump the body. Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi says he is not a criminal and had nothing to do with a w…