-
FILE| Commissioners of the Madlanga Inquiry at the inquiry’s sitting in Pretoria.
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry of Inquiry has welcomed the arrest of a suspect in the killing of former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officer Marius van der Merwe.
The deceased was referred to as Witness D when he testified before commission in Pretoria.
Van der Merwe was shot dead in the presence of his family in December last year.
#sapsHQ [UPDATE] Task Team investigating cases from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has made its first breakthrough with the arrest of a suspect believed to be the shooter in the Marius Van Der Merwe (Witness D) murder case.
The team, established by General Fannie Masemola on… pic.twitter.com/PpFh92l1Ki
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) March 14, 2026
The incident happened shortly after he testified about corruption and a covered up in a killing alleged to have involved senior EMPD officials.
The suspect will appear in the Brakpan Magistrates’ Court east of Johannesburg on Monday.
Madlanga commission’s spokesperson Jeremy Michaels says, “Mr. Van der Merwe appeared before the Commission as ‘Witness D’ on 14 November 2025 and was assassinated on 5 December 2025. His bravery helped to uncover allegations of serious wrongdoing in the City of Ekurhuleni and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD). The Commission urges the relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure justice for the families of all those affected by people who are attempting to resist accountability for their alleged acts of criminality.”
Related video| Police confirm arrest in Witness D murder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vAcVA82-Qg
