Former SAPS Special Task Force Member in Court for Murder of Madlanga Witness ‘D’

A former member of the South African Police Service’s elite Special Task Force unit has appeared in court for the murder of Marius van der Merwe, a key witness at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry known as Witness D .

Matipandile Sotheni, 41, made his first appearance at the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where he faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder, premeditated murder, three counts of attempted murder, and possession of unlicensed ammunition .

Former Elite Officer

Sotheni joined SAPS in 2005 and was selected for the Special Task Force in 2010, where he served as a highly trained marksman with skills comparable to a sniper . He resigned from the police in 2019 and subsequently worked as a bodyguard for a wealthy family in Houghton .

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe expressed disappointment at the arrest of a former elite officer. “It costs a lot to train a special task force member, and that is why it is so unfortunate that a highly trained, specialised former member can appear in court on such a serious charge,” she said .

Mathe described Sotheni as “lethal” and suggested he was hired to do a “clean job” . Police believe the hit was a “side gig” arranged while he was working in the private sector .

Details of the Murder

Van der Merwe was shot and killed outside his home in Brakpan on 5 December 2025, shortly after arriving with his family . Gunmen opened fire, shooting him in the head and leg in what police described as a targeted attack carried out in full view of his wife and children, who were unharmed .

According to police investigations, Wiandre Pretorius was the driver of the Suzuki Swift used in the drive-by shooting, while Sotheni was in the passenger seat and pulled the trigger . Pretorius reportedly shot himself at a petrol station in Brakpan on 8 February 2026 in front of his partner, who is a police officer .

Police have seized the vehicle believed to have been used in the murder and are still searching for the AK47 used in the shooting .

Background of Witness D

Van der Merwe, a former EMPD officer who later worked in the private security industry, had testified before the Madlanga Commission in November 2025 . During his testimony, he made explosive allegations about corruption and criminal conduct within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, including claims that officers were involved in the torture and killing of a robbery suspect in 2022 .

He alleged that suspended EMPD acting chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi instructed him to dispose of the body to conceal the crime . Van der Merwe also claimed that some metro police units were involved in staged truck hijackings and other illegal operations involving private security companies .

Court Proceedings

The matter has been classified as a Schedule 6 offence, meaning Sotheni bears the onus of proving exceptional circumstances to be considered for bail . His case was postponed to 25 March 2026 for a formal bail application .

Van der Merwe’s widow, Leanne, was visibly emotional during the court proceedings, while his sister Natasha told reporters outside court that the family has been traumatised and she has been diagnosed with PTSD .

Reactions

The Madlanga Commission welcomed the arrest, with spokesperson Jeremy Michaels urging law enforcement to “ensure justice for the families of all those affected by people who are attempting to resist accountability for their alleged acts of criminality” .

National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola described the arrest as a breakthrough, though he confirmed that another suspect linked to the killing remains at large and investigations are continuing .

Portfolio Committee on Police chair Ian Cameron called this arrest “an important first step” but stressed that “the real test is whether SAPS can build a case that reaches beyond the alleged shooter and exposes who planned, enabled and ordered this murder” .

President Cyril Ramaphosa previously condemned the killing, saying he was appalled and saddened by the attack on a former public servant who served the cause of justice by testifying at the commission .