Whistleblower murder suspect is former elite officer, South African police say

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 in a case that caused national outrage. He has not commented on the charges.

Van der Merwe, identified only as “Witness D” during his appearance at the inquiry, known as the Madlanga commission, 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 organised crime groups had infiltrated the government. This led to the suspension of South Africa’s Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who has denied having any links to criminal gangs.

South Africa’s parliament is also investigating these allegations.

In addition to Van der Merwe, three of the 12 people implicated in the robbery suspect’s killing have since died. Two were shot dead, while one killed himself, police say.

The suspected robber has since been identified as Emmanuel Mbense, who died in April 2022 – a case which was shrouded in mystery until Van der Merwe’s shocking testimony.

Van der Merwe said he was ordered to dispose of Mbense’s body by local police chief Julius Mkhwanazi. He has since been suspended over the accusations, which he denies. No arrests have been made in this case.

Sotheni, arrested over the weekend, was one of three suspects police had identified in Van der Merwe’s murder.

Security was tight at the court as armed officers escorted Sotheni, dressed in all black, into the packed courtroom. The former officer showed no emotion and stared ahead during proceedings.

In contrast, Van der Merwe’s grieving wife, also dressed in black, could be seen wiping away tears during the brief hearing.

Van der Merwe’s sister, Natasha, told reporters ahead of the proceedings that the family believed the person who ordered his murder was “definitely someone my brother knew”.

Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said Sotheni was the alleged hitman while another suspect, Wiandre Pretorius, was the driver of the car used in the drive-by shooting. Pretorius is the suspect who killed himself.

This car has since been seized but police are still looking for the firearm used in the murder, believed to be an AK-47.

Sotheni also faces charges of attempting to kill Van der Merwe’s wife and children.

The case was postponed to 25 March for a formal bail application.