Johannesburg – Marius van der Merwe, a former police reservist and key witness in the investigation of illegal mining in South Africa, was killed hours after reaching out to journalist Yusuf Abramjee to reveal crucial information about state officials involved in the illicit trade.
Van der Merwe, who had previously testified before the Madlanga Commission in November, made explosive allegations concerning the corruption within the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department and private security firms.
In a voice message sent to Abramjee, he revealed that he had vital intelligence on those facilitating illegal mining and was determined to expose them. “I want to get my story out in public, in terms of the role players from the state facilitating the illegal mining problem,” he said in the message, which was recorded shortly before his death.
Van der Merwe, known for his relentless fight against illegal miners, had been a thorn in the side of criminal syndicates in the area. His recent testimony at the Madlanga Commission had been a turning point, shedding light on the deep-rooted corruption in the mining sector.
Sources close to him revealed that he had received numerous threats after his testimony, especially from the notorious “Zama Zamas,” illegal miners who had been terrorizing the West Rand and East Rand. It was reported that he was forced to leave the West Rand after an assassination attempt earlier in the year.
On the night of his death, Van der Merwe had been patrolling for Zama Zama movements when two suspects in a white SUV attempted to kill him. He had reported the incident to the police, who denied any knowledge of the attack. Just hours later, he was gunned down, leaving behind unanswered questions about his death and the forces behind it.
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