First arrest for killing of state witness linked to Madlanga Commission
A suspect believed to have shot and killed Marius van der Merwe, also known as Witness D, has been arrested.
The arrest formed part of an investigation by a specialised task team established to probe cases arising from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says the arrest comes after a gathering of substantial evidence, investigators secured a warrant of arrest earlier this week and carried out their first arrest on Saturday.
The suspect was apprehended in Johannesburg.
Van der Merwe, a security professional from Brakpan, testified before the Madlanga Commission in November last year.
During his testimony, he implicated suspended deputy metro police chief Julius Mkhwanazi and members of private security companies in a range of violent crimes, including robbery, torture and murder.
He also told the commission that he became a state witness after assisting in the disposal of a body, which he claimed belonged to a victim killed during an off-the-books operation allegedly involving Ekurhuleni Metro Police officers.
Van der Merwe was shot multiple times in December outside his home, in full view of his family.
Mathe said the task team remains on the ground conducting search and seizure operations at several addresses linked to the suspect.
The vehicle believed to have been used during the killing of Witness D has also been seized.
The suspect is expected to appear before the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
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