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Matipandile Sotheni, former police officer accused of killing Marius van der Merwe
The Independent Policing Union of South Africa (IPUSA) has called for the implementation of exit vetting.
This follows the arrest of a former Special Task Force member, Matipandile Sotheni, for the murder of former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officer and whistleblower Marius van der Merwe, also known as Witness D.
Van der Merwe was killed outside his home in December last year, after testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Police believe Sotheni was hired to kill Van der Merwe, raising concerns about task force members being recruited by organised crime syndicates.
IPUSA General Secretary Mpho Kwinika says, “IPUSA believes that what we call exit vetting needs to be instituted to each and every police officer who leaves the service and it’s important to do so for those who are employed in specialised units such as this one, because of the skills that they possess, which include snipping. We need to have units that are going to continue to monitor their activities and their lifestyles outside there, so that they do not end up getting into the environments they find themselves in now.”
VIDEO | NPA & SAPS brief media after Sotheni’s court appearance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sL_nhUZUq0
