Matapandile Sotheni, 41, appeared before the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng on Monday morning facing charges of murder, attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

The charges have been classified as a Schedule 6 offence, the most serious category under South African criminal law.

Sotheni was arrested in Johannesburg on Saturday after investigators identified him as the primary suspect in the December 2025 assassination of Van der Merwe.

Van der Merwe had previously testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry where he exposed alleged corruption and misconduct within parts of the justice system.

His killing came shortly after his testimony, raising serious concerns about witness safety in high-profile investigations.

The case has been postponed to 25 March 2026. The State has indicated that it will oppose bail and the accused is expected to remain in custody until his next court appearance.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the suspect is a former member of the SAPS Special Task Force.

According to Mathe, Sotheni joined the police service in 2005 and became a member of the elite Special Task Force unit in 2010, before resigning in 2019.

Mathe described the arrest as unfortunate given the high cost of training members of the specialised tactical unit. She said it costs more than R1 million to train a single Special Task Force operator.

She added that after leaving the police service, the suspect entered the private security sector, where many former specialised officers are recruited.

Mathe said it is concerning when people with specialised training become linked to serious crimes and emphasised that criminal elements must be rooted out wherever they appear.

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A specialised task team established to investigate cases arising from the Madlanga Commission has arrested a suspect believed to be the gunman responsible for the killing.

The task team was established by National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Fannie Masemola on the instruction of the President to prioritise investigations linked to the commission.

Read also:BREAKTHROUGH: Suspect Arrested For Murder Of Madlanga Commission Witness

SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that investigators obtained a J50 warrant of arrest earlier this week after gathering what she described as overwhelming evidence.

The suspect was arrested in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Police have also seized the vehicle believed to have been used during the murder, while search and seizure operations are continuing at several addresses linked to the suspect.

“The suspect believed to be the one who allegedly shot and killed Marius Van Der Merwe was arrested in Johannesburg,” said Mathe.

“The team is still on the ground where they are busy with search and seizure operations at various identified addresses of the suspect.”

The arrested suspect is expected to make his first appearance before the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

National Commissioner Fannie Masemola praised the investigation team for acting swiftly in securing the arrest, describing it as an important step in ensuring accountability in the high-profile case.

The murder of Van Der Merwe, known as Witness D in matters linked to the Madlanga Commission, sparked national concern over the safety of individuals connected to the inquiry.

Investigations remain ongoing and police have indicated that further developments may follow.

MDNtv continues to follow the story closely and will bring updates as the case unfolds.

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Speaking during a walkabout in Saulsville, the national police commissioner expressed confidence that a breakthrough is near, saying investigators are following strong leads and working around the clock.

Van der Merwe, known affectionately as “Vlam”, was shot dead in Brakpan on Friday night in front of his wife and children. The attack shocked the country, especially because it happened just three weeks after he implicated a senior police official in wrongdoing during testimony before the Madlanga Commission.

New CCTV footage has revealed van der Merwe speaking to the men believed to be behind the hit shortly before the fatal shooting, information that investigators are now analysing closely.

Police say security measures have now been tightened around all officials and witnesses linked to the commission. A coordinated national plan has also been activated to make sure no one else connected to the inquiry becomes a target.

According to police leadership, the investigation is moving in the right direction—and they expect results soon.

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Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe, known as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission, was shot dead in Brakpan just hours after sending a voice note stating he was ready to expose alleged state-linked role players behind illegal mining syndicates.

Van der Merwe had recently testified about corruption within the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department and had approached journalists saying he feared he could be killed.

He told anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee that he wanted to go public and identify individuals allegedly facilitating illegal mining in South Africa.

Investigators are probing whether his killing is connected to his testimony, his intelligence on illegal mining networks, or another factor. No motive has been confirmed.

The murder has reignited urgent calls for stronger protection of whistleblowers and witnesses in South Africa’s ongoing fight against organised crime.

Credit: Yusuf Abramjee

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