New details emerging from the charge sheet have shed light on the alleged planning behind the killing of Marius van der Merwe, a key witness in the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Van der Merwe was shot outside his home in Brakpan in December while his wife and two children were present. They were inside a vehicle when the attack occurred and were unharmed, although the suspect now faces additional attempted murder charges related to them.
Alleged Hit Planned Weeks In Advance
According to the charge sheet, the accused, Matipandile Sotheni, allegedly carried out the shooting after weeks of planning and surveillance.
Sotheni, a former member of the Special Task Force, is accused of working with the late Wiandré Pretorius, who allegedly helped identify Van der Merwe’s residence.
Investigators believe Sotheni monitored the home in the days leading up to the attack and positioned himself nearby on the night of the killing, waiting for the family to return.
Witness Targeted After Testimony
The state alleges that the killing took place shortly after Van der Merwe gave testimony before the commission, suggesting he may have been targeted because of his role as a witness.
Pretorius, who has since died, had been linked to the 2022 murder of Emmanuel Mbense, a case in which Van der Merwe made serious allegations, including implicating senior figures such as Julius Mkhwanazi.
No arrests have been made in connection with the Mbense case.
Attempted Murder Charges Added
In addition to the murder charge, Sotheni faces three counts of attempted murder relating to Van der Merwe’s wife and two children, who were inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
The charge sheet states that the suspect allegedly fired from a moving vehicle using an AK-47 rifle.
Authorities have not yet recovered the firearm believed to have been used in the attack.
Arrest And Ongoing Investigation
Sotheni was arrested in Johannesburg and appeared briefly in the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court. Police reportedly found a large quantity of ammunition in his possession at the time of his arrest.
The South African Police Service said investigations are ongoing, with another suspect still being sought.
National police commissioner Fannie Masemola confirmed that authorities are continuing efforts to track down additional suspects linked to the case.
The matter has been postponed to next week.
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