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, causing national outrage. He has not commented on the charges. Van der Merwe, identified only as Witness D during his appearance at the inquiry, had implicated police officials in the torture and murder of a suspected robber in his testimony.
His testimony was seen as blowing the lid on the extent of police corruption at a local level in South Africa and led to the suspension of several of the officers he had named. The Madlanga commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa after a senior police officer alleged that organized crime groups had infiltrated the government, resulting in the suspension of South Africa's Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who denies any links to criminal gangs.
South Africa's parliament is also investigating these allegations. Besides Van der Merwe, three of the twelve people implicated in the robbery suspect's killing have died; two were shot dead, while one killed himself. The suspected robber, identified as Emmanuel Mbense, died in April 2022, with the case shrouded in mystery until Van der Merwe's shocking testimony.
Van der Merwe claimed he was ordered to dispose of Mbense's body by local police chief Julius Mkhwanazi, who has been suspended over the accusations, which he denies. Sotheni, arrested over the weekend, was identified as one of three suspects in Van der Merwe's murder. Police reported that Sotheni was the alleged hitman, while another suspect was the driver of the car used in the drive-by shooting, who has since killed himself.
Security was tight during the court hearing as Sotheni, dressed in all black, was escorted by armed officers. Van der Merwe's grieving wife, also dressed in black, was seen wiping away tears during the proceedings. His sister stated that the family believes the person who ordered the murder was someone her brother knew. Sotheni is scheduled for a formal bail application on March 25 and also faces charges of attempting to kill Van der Merwe's wife and children.
Sotheni is accused of shooting dead Van der Merwe in full view of his family, causing national outrage. He has not commented on the charges. Van der Merwe, identified only as Witness D during his appearance at the inquiry, had implicated police officials in the torture and murder of a suspected robber in his testimony.
His testimony was seen as blowing the lid on the extent of police corruption at a local level in South Africa and led to the suspension of several of the officers he had named. The Madlanga commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa after a senior police officer alleged that organized crime groups had infiltrated the government, resulting in the suspension of South Africa's Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who denies any links to criminal gangs.
South Africa's parliament is also investigating these allegations. Besides Van der Merwe, three of the twelve people implicated in the robbery suspect's killing have died; two were shot dead, while one killed himself. The suspected robber, identified as Emmanuel Mbense, died in April 2022, with the case shrouded in mystery until Van der Merwe's shocking testimony.
Van der Merwe claimed he was ordered to dispose of Mbense's body by local police chief Julius Mkhwanazi, who has been suspended over the accusations, which he denies. Sotheni, arrested over the weekend, was identified as one of three suspects in Van der Merwe's murder. Police reported that Sotheni was the alleged hitman, while another suspect was the driver of the car used in the drive-by shooting, who has since killed himself.
Security was tight during the court hearing as Sotheni, dressed in all black, was escorted by armed officers. Van der Merwe's grieving wife, also dressed in black, was seen wiping away tears during the proceedings. His sister stated that the family believes the person who ordered the murder was someone her brother knew. Sotheni is scheduled for a formal bail application on March 25 and also faces charges of attempting to kill Van der Merwe's wife and children.
