A former member of an elite police unit has been charged with the murder of a whistleblower who testified at a major police corruption inquiry in South Africa. Matipandile Sotheni, 41, appeared in court accused of killing Marius van der Merwe in December last year.
Sotheni is accused of shooting dead Van der Merwe in full view of his family in a case that caused national outrage. He has not commented on the charges. Van der Merwe, referred to as 'Witness D' during his appearance at the inquiry, known as the Madlanga commission, had implicated police officials in the torture and murder of a suspected robber in his testimony.
His testimony was noted for exposing the extent of police corruption at a local level in South Africa, leading to the suspension of several officers he had named. The Madlanga commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa in response to alarming allegations of organized crime infiltration within the government, resulting in the suspension of South African Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who has denied any connections with criminal gangs. Parliament is also probing these allegations.
Out of the 12 individuals implicated in the robbery suspect's death, three have died, with police stating that two were shot and one committed suicide. The suspected robber, Emmanuel Mbense, had died in April 2022, his case only drawing attention due to Van der Merwe's shocking testimony.
Sotheni is accused of shooting dead Van der Merwe in full view of his family in a case that caused national outrage. He has not commented on the charges. Van der Merwe, referred to as 'Witness D' during his appearance at the inquiry, known as the Madlanga commission, had implicated police officials in the torture and murder of a suspected robber in his testimony.
His testimony was noted for exposing the extent of police corruption at a local level in South Africa, leading to the suspension of several officers he had named. The Madlanga commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa in response to alarming allegations of organized crime infiltration within the government, resulting in the suspension of South African Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who has denied any connections with criminal gangs. Parliament is also probing these allegations.
Out of the 12 individuals implicated in the robbery suspect's death, three have died, with police stating that two were shot and one committed suicide. The suspected robber, Emmanuel Mbense, had died in April 2022, his case only drawing attention due to Van der Merwe's shocking testimony.
