Madlanga Commission: Witness shot dead in front of family

JOHANNESBURG – A witness who testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has been shot dead on the East Rand.

It is understood that the shooting happened in Brakpan on Friday evening.

Police Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe told The Citizen that police management were en route to the crime scene.

“He has already testified.”

It is believed that the witness implicated suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) top cop Julius Mkhwanazi in criminal activity.

The shooting occurred just after 8pm, when at least two men reportedly approached the victim and his family as they arrived home.

They opened fire on the man and then fled the scene, leaving his wife and children unharmed.

The commission identified the witness as Marius van der Merwe and extended its ‘deepest condolences to the van der Merwe family’.

“The commission would like to acknowledge Mr van der Merwe’s contribution towards uncovering serious allegations of criminality and corruption in the Ekhuruleni Metropolitan Municipality and Ekhuruleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD).”

The shooting comes at a time when allegations of rot, corruption and interference in the police and the criminal justice system take centre stage at the Madlanga Commission.

Earlier this week, Mkhwanazi denied that payments he received from tenderpreneur Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala were bribes linked to his alleged involvement in the blue lights saga.