Family of Murdered Madlanga Commission Witness Claims Fatal Hit Was Ordered by High Ranking Implicated Figures

The family of slain witness Mariuis Van Der Merwe claims his murder was a hit ordered by figures at the Madlanga Commission. Former cop Matipandile Sotheni faces court.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 9:52 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Eyewitness News

Assassination of Witness D Sparks Crisis of Judicial Safety

The brutal assassination of Mariuis Van Der Merwe, known during the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry proceedings as Witness D, has highlighted the lethal risks facing those who expose systemic corruption. Van Der Merwe was gunned down outside his residence in Brakpan in December, an act his family characterizes as a professional hit directly tied to the evidence he provided before the inquiry. According to the victim's family, the precision and timing of the attack suggest that his testimony had reached a threshold of sensitivity that necessitated his permanent removal from the ongoing investigation.

Former Special Task Force Member Apprehended in Connection with Killing

Legal proceedings against the alleged shooter, identified as former Special Task Force officer Matipandile Sotheni, commenced on Monday at the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court. Sotheni, who previously served in an elite unit of the South African Police Service, was apprehended by authorities over the weekend following an intensive manhunt. During the court appearance, the suspect remained stoic while the victim’s family, including his parents and wife, observed from the gallery. The involvement of a former high level police operative has fueled concerns regarding the infiltration of law enforcement skillsets into organized criminal hits.

Family Demands Accountability for Architects of the Brakpan Shooting

In an emotional address following the court hearing, Natasha Van Der Merwe, the victim’s sister, stated that the family believes the conspiracy extends far beyond the individual who pulled the trigger. According to the family, the hit was orchestrated by figures sitting in higher places who were directly threatened by the evidence Mariuis had presented. They have expressed a desperate hope that the investigative trail will not end with the shooter but will instead lead to the arrest of the stakeholders who commissioned the murder to protect their own interests from the commission’s findings.