A key witness who testified before the Madlanga Commission has been shot dead in Brakpan, Ekurhuleni.
The South African Police Service’s National Spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, confirmed that police received reports of a shooting in Brenthurst on Friday evening, 5 December 2025.
A private security company, Vision Tactical, has confirmed the victim as a former Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department member and the owner of QRF Task Team Security Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe.
SAPS management is on scene, and the investigation is underway.
WITNESS D HAD IMPLICATED A SENIOR EMPD OFFICIAL
The deceased had previously testified in the Madlanga Commission in November 2025, and reports have confirmed him to be the same person referred to as “Witness D.”
He implicated suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi in alleged criminal activity.
Mkhwanazi appeared before the commission this week, facing allegations that he took part in a 2022 incident in Brakpan.
Witness D implicated him and other officers for allegedly torturing and killing a suspect.
Van der Merwe further testified that Mkhwanazi instructed him to dump the body in a dam.
Mkhwanazi has denied wrongdoing.
MADLANGA COMMISSION WITNESS RAISED SAFETY CONCERNS
The Madlanga Commission has previously heard that several witnesses feared for their lives after testifying against senior police officials.
This shooting marks the second death of a witness connected to Mkhwanazi allegations.
Van der Merwe’s shooting follows the recent drive-by shooting of Jaco Hanekom, an informant who provided CCTV footage implicating Mkhwanazi and EMPD officers in copper theft.
The drive-by shooting happened on the same day the implicated officers received bail.
INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY
SAPS has not yet released further details on the shooting, and investigators were still on the scene late on Friday.
The Madlanga Commission has also not commented.
This is a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
