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A person cleans the scene where Wiandre Pretorius shot himself, February 8, 2026.
Police have confirmed that former police reservist Wiandre Pretorius was a person of interest in the murder of Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D from the Madlanga Commission.
This was revealed on Sunday morning, hours after he took his own life at a filling station in Brakpan, east of Johannesburg.
Pretorius was implicated in the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in relation to corruption in the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department by Witness D.
Witness D also said Pretorius was present when a man was tubed to death and his body was thrown in a dam in April 2022.
Last week, Pretorius survived an apparent hit after three men approached his vehicle and opened fire outside a house in Boksburg.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says Pretorius was the first person of interest police took in for questioning and had seized his firearms, including cellphones.
Video | Police brief media following Pretorius’ alleged suicide:
