In a major step forward, police have made their first arrest in the high-profile murder of Marius van der Merwe – better known as Witness D from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
A dedicated task team, set up on the President’s orders by National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, took over the case and quickly built a strong case. This week they obtained a warrant and, on Saturday 14 March 2026, arrested the man believed to have pulled the trigger. The suspect was picked up in Johannesburg.
Right now, officers are still searching several addresses linked to him and have already seized the vehicle thought to have been used in the killing.
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The arrested man is expected to appear in the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Monday 16 March 2026 for his first court appearance.
General Masemola praised the team for moving fast and delivering this early win in such a sensitive investigation.