National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, is set to hold an urgent weekend meeting with Justice Mbuyisela Madlanga, following the shocking killing of a key witness connected to the high-profile Madlanga Commission.
In a statement released late last night, the Madlanga Commission confirmed that the slain witness, previously referred to as Witness D, has been identified as 41-year-old Marius van der Merwe. His death has sent shockwaves through law enforcement circles and intensified public scrutiny over the safety of individuals cooperating with major corruption investigations.
Van der Merwe had testified just last month, delivering explosive evidence related to allegations of corruption, cover-ups, and misconduct involving suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi. His testimony was considered a crucial piece of the Commission’s ongoing probe into systemic corruption within the metropolitan police structure.
The circumstances surrounding Van der Merwe’s killing have not yet been fully disclosed, but the timing — and his role in the inquiry — has triggered widespread concern about witness protection measures and the possible intimidation of those participating in judicial commissions of inquiry.
Sources close to the investigation say Masemola’s urgent meeting with Justice Madlanga is expected to focus on the integrity of the Commission, security arrangements for remaining witnesses, and the broader implications for ongoing anti-corruption efforts. Observers believe the police chief will face increasing pressure to guarantee swift arrests and reassure the public that state witnesses will be protected moving forward.
The Madlanga Commission, which has already exposed troubling patterns of misconduct within certain policing ranks, now finds itself operating under heightened tension. Civil rights organisations have already begun calling for immediate reinforcement of witness protection protocols, warning that further intimidation or loss of key contributors would severely undermine the Commission’s mandate.
