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Three persons of interest identified in murder of Madlanga Commission witness
Witness D, who has been identified as Marius Van der Merwe, was shot dead in full view of his wife and children in Brakpan on Friday night.
Van der Merwe, who testified in camera in November, made damning allegations exposing alleged deep-rooted corruption within the Ekurhuleni municipality.
It is alleged that van der Merwe also implicated the suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, in wrongdoing.
During his testimony, he claimed he was ordered to dump the body of a suspect in a dam after a group of EMPD officers and private security personnel had allegedly tortured and killed the man.
The commission was established by the President to probe the allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, of widespread corruption within the country’s criminal justice system.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, says the Madlanga Commission may have to reconsider broadcasting testimonies following the killing of Witness D.
Minister Kubayi says such incidents will instill fear in whistleblowers and deter them from coming forward.
She says the best way to protect witnesses is for testimonies not to be broadcast.
The minister added that she has asked the commission’s chairperson, retired deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, to review how testimony is delivered.
“This is what they need to do. Otherwise, we’re going to have a commission that does not have people coming forward to testify because people are fearing for their lives.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa has also called on law enforcement authorities to act swiftly in bringing the perpetrators to book.
“While our law enforcement agencies establish the circumstances leading to this heinous act, I am appalled and saddened by this attack on a former public servant who recently served the cause of justice and integrity by testifying at the Madlanga Commission.”
Ramaphosa, who labelled the incident appalling and saddening, has vowed to protect whistleblowers.
“As government, we will redouble our efforts to protect whistleblowers, including witnesses before the Madlanga Commission and the Commission itself, as they serve the nation with bravery in the face of criminal threats,” he added.
The commission concluded its hearings for the year on Friday and will reconvene next year. An interim report is expected on 17 December.
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