South African police have identified three persons of interest in the killing of whistleblower Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission. The national police commissioner visited the victim's family to update them on the investigation, which has recovered one of the vehicles used in the attack. Authorities are exploring links to van der Merwe's testimony on alleged police corruption, amid calls for better whistleblower protection.
Marius van der Merwe, a security company owner who testified as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, was shot and killed on the evening of December 5, 2025, outside his home in Brenthurst, Brakpan, east of Johannesburg. Assailants fired an AK-47 at him as he stepped out of his car to open the gate, in full view of his family. A neighbor described hearing the children's screams afterward, highlighting the trauma of the incident.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola visited van der Merwe's home on December 8, meeting privately with his partner, Lee-Anne McLean. He briefed the family on progress, confirming that investigators have identified three persons of interest, with one already questioned. Police recovered a white Chevrolet bakkie abandoned behind a mall in Alexandra township on December 5; video footage suggests it was used to monitor the home beforehand. A sedan was the other vehicle involved, according to Masemola.
Van der Merwe's testimony in November implicated suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi in a 2022 murder during an operation in Brakpan. He alleged officers tortured a suspect—who offered a R500,000 bribe—by suffocating him with a plastic bag, then killed him. Mkhwanazi reportedly ordered the scene cleaned and the body dumped in a dam, where it was later found. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is advancing its probe into these claims, alongside other EMPD cases involving assault, illegal vehicle use, and rape.
While the motive remains unclear, Masemola noted it could relate to the Madlanga Commission or van der Merwe's work against illegal miners on the East Rand. He had filed an attempted murder case in September after a prior attack. Van der Merwe declined witness protection. The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, with the commission, has planned enhanced security for witnesses and officials.
Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa President Kgosi Mathupa Mokoena demanded the Department of Justice develop a protection plan for whistleblowers, warning the killing could deter others. 'This shocking incident will scare away witnesses and whistleblowers,' he said, calling for proof van der Merwe rejected protection. Masemola affirmed investigations are on track, expecting a breakthrough soon.
