Johannesburg – South African authorities have identified three persons of interest following the assassination of Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission. One suspect has been taken in for questioning.
National Police Commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola told reporters during a walkabout in Saulsville on Monday that investigators are confident a breakthrough in the case is imminent.
Van der Merwe, affectionately called “Vlam”, was shot in Brakpan on Friday in front of his wife and children. Three weeks earlier, he had accused Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi of instructing him to cover up a murder committed by EMPD and SAPS officers.
CCTV footage from the night of the killing reportedly shows van der Merwe speaking with the men believed to be behind the attack.
Masemola said police remain on high alert and that the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure together with the Madlanga Commission have developed plans to strengthen security around officials and witnesses linked to the commission.
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