Police Close In on Suspects After Witness D Assassination: Who Killed “Vlam” van der Merwe?

A Chilling Hit, A Family Witness, and A Country Watching Closely

The murder of Madlanga Commission Witness D, Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe, has left South Africans shaken, not only because it happened in cold blood, but because it happened in front of his wife and children. The brutality has sparked outrage, fear, and uncomfortable questions about the safety of whistleblowers who dare to speak out.

Van der Merwe was more than just a name on a witness list. Known to many simply as “Vlam”, he had recently given explosive testimony at the Madlanga Commission. In it, he accused EMPD Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi of ordering him to help cover up the alleged killing of a suspect by police. Just three weeks later, he was assassinated in Brakpan, a scene so brazen it feels like something out of a crime drama rather than real life in Gauteng.

But it is real. And South Africans are demanding answers.

Police Say They’re Closing In, Three Suspects Identified

National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola addressed media during a walkabout in Saulsville this week. He confirmed that police have identified three persons of interest, with one already taken in for questioning. Investigators say they are “confident a breakthrough is imminent”, suggesting arrests could be on the horizon.

Fresh CCTV footage from the night of the murder has surfaced showing van der Merwe speaking with the men believed to be his killers shortly before shots were fired. It’s an eerie piece of evidence that could prove pivotal in piecing together what happened and why.

Meanwhile, Masemola announced that the NATJOINTS and Madlanga Commission have drawn up a security plan to protect officials and witnesses moving forward. For many, this is welcome news but for others, it comes too late.

Context: Whistleblowing in South Africa Has Always Been Dangerous

South Africa has a long history of whistleblowers being intimidated, threatened, or killed, from Babita Deokaran to Cloete Murray. Each case intensifies the conversation about protection, yet the cycle repeats. Van der Merwe’s assassination now joins that troubling list.

Online, the reaction has been a mix of grief and anger.

On X (Twitter), one user wrote, “If they can kill a witness like this, what message does that send to others?” Another asked whether justice can survive if speaking out becomes a death sentence.

It’s a sentiment shared across the country, a fear that the truth is being silenced at gunpoint.

The Road Ahead: A Breakthrough May Be Coming, But Trust Still Needs Healing

Police insist progress is being made, and Masemola’s confidence hints that more developments are coming soon. But justice isn’t only about arrests, it’s also about restoring public confidence.

People need to see accountability. They need to know that a witness won’t be executed for testifying. They need proof that the system cares not just after the bullet is fired, but before.

This case may very well be a turning point for the Madlanga Commission. For now, South Africa waits, grieving a man whose courage cost him his life, and watching to see whether the truth he spoke will survive him.

{Source: IOL}

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