Three Persons of Interest Identified in Whistleblower Marius van der Merwe’s Murder

Key Takeaways:

• National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola met with the family of slain whistleblower Marius van der Merwe to brief them on the investigation into his murder.
• The police have identified three suspects in Van der Merwe’s murder and have found one of the vehicles used in the crime, a white Chevrolet bakkie.
• The motive for Van der Merwe’s killing is still unknown, but it is speculated to be linked to his testimony at the Madlanga Commission.
• The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is investigating allegations of murder and corruption involving Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officials and private security officers.
• The police are also investigating the Saulsville massacre, in which 12 people were killed and 13 others were wounded.

Introduction to the Investigation
The National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, visited the home of slain whistleblower Marius van der Merwe on Monday night, where he met with Van der Merwe’s partner, Lee-Anne McLean. Masemola was accompanied by the police top brass, and the meeting was held to brief the family on the progress of the investigation into Van der Merwe’s murder. Van der Merwe was a key witness at the Madlanga Commission, where he testified about alleged corruption and murder involving EMPD officials and private security officers.

The Murder of Marius van der Merwe
Van der Merwe was killed on Friday, 5 December, outside his home in Brakpan, Gauteng. He was shot with an AK-47 in full view of his family, and his assailants used two vehicles, a sedan and a white Chevrolet bakkie. The police have found the white bakkie, which was abandoned behind a mall in Alexandra, and are investigating its connection to the crime. The motive for Van der Merwe’s killing is still unknown, but it is speculated to be linked to his testimony at the Madlanga Commission. Van der Merwe had also been involved in the battle against illegal miners, known as zama zamas, on the East Rand, which has also been suggested as a possible motive for his murder.

The Madlanga Commission Testimony
Van der Merwe testified as "Witness D" at the Madlanga Commission, where he implicated suspended EMPD deputy police chief Julius Mkhwanazi in alleged corruption and murder. He told the commission that Mkhwanazi had ordered officers to clean a murder scene and dispose of the body. Van der Merwe’s testimony reinforced retired EMPD deputy chief Revo Spies’s bombshell allegation that Mkhwanazi was an accessory to murder. The alleged murder occurred in mid-2022 in Brakpan during an EMPD and private security operation aimed at recovering a stolen truck and stock.

The Ipid Investigation
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is investigating the allegations of murder and corruption involving EMPD officials and private security officers. Ipid spokesperson Lizzy Suping said that several cases against EMPD officers were at an advanced stage of investigation, including the alleged murder and dumping of a body at a lake in Germiston. The Ipid investigation is ongoing, and it is expected to shed more light on the alleged corruption and murder involving EMPD officials and private security officers.

The Saulsville Massacre
The police are also investigating the Saulsville massacre, in which 12 people were killed and 13 others were wounded. The massacre occurred in the early hours of 6 December at a tavern in Saulsville, Pretoria. The police have identified three persons of interest and have interviewed one person in connection with the massacre. The police are still searching for the three gunmen, who are still on the run. One of the gunmen was released on parole in September on attempted murder and extortion-related convictions.

Conclusion
The investigation into the murder of Marius van der Merwe and the Saulsville massacre is ongoing, and the police are working to bring those responsible to justice. The Ipid investigation into the allegations of corruption and murder involving EMPD officials and private security officers is also ongoing, and it is expected to shed more light on the alleged corruption and murder. The police are committed to ensuring that those responsible for these heinous crimes are held accountable and that justice is served.