By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider

Justice Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, expressed concern over whether live broadcasting of witnesses at the Madlanga commission compromises their safety as an incident occurred in which Witness D was murdered in his home in Brakpan. 

Marius Van der Merwe is the witness identified to have been shot dead at his home in Brakpan on Friday night. Before his death, Van der Merwe had revealed evidence that pertained to a 2022 murder of a robbery suspect as well as revealing a cover-up by the Ekhuruleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) suspended chief Julius Mkhwanazi, as two EMPD officers had murdered the suspect in his home.

 At a media briefing Kubayi had raised her concerns about whether or not people are safe to give testimonies if the witnesses are being broadcast on national television. 

“We were concerned by the fact that the public and the media were able to identify Mr Van der Merwe as Witness D, I didn’t know commissioners didn’t know who witness D is, neither many of those who work expect those who work directly to get the statement, and this worries us a lot.” said Kubayi at the press briefing.

 Van der Merwe, 41, who had once served as an officer of the EMPD was shot dead in front of his family. Police have highlighted that the suspects were driving a white Nissan NP200 bakkie as a manhunt for the suspects began.

 “He was offered witness protection, which he declined…He didn’t think he needed it, and he runs his own security company” mentioned Kubayi in the press briefing. Many people online have moved to accuse Julius Mkhwanazi for the murder of Van der Merwe as he had testified against the suspended police chief. 

Van der Merwe testified that Mkhwanazi allegedly had instructed him to dispose of the body of the suspect that was murdered by the two EMPD officers.