Ex-Police Special Task Force Member Accused Of Killing Madlanga Commission Witness In Brakpan Drive-By

Police say the man accused of carrying out the fatal shooting of a key witness linked to the Madlanga Commission is a former elite police operative who once served in the South African Police Service’s Special Task Force.

Matipandile Sotheni, 41, was identified by investigators as the alleged gunman responsible for the drive-by attack that killed Marius van der Merwe outside his Brakpan home on 5 December 2025.

Authorities disclosed the details during an update on Monday, outlining the suspected roles played by several individuals connected to the case.

Former SAPS Special Task Force Member Linked to Brakpan Witness Murder

According to police, Sotheni previously served within the SAPS before leaving the force several years ago.

National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said Sotheni first joined the police in 2005 before being selected for the elite Special Task Force in 2010. He later resigned from the service in 2019 and entered the private sector.

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Investigators believe the suspect’s specialised training played a role in the alleged execution-style attack.

“It tells you that he would execute and eliminate Witness D on the spot because of the training that our special task force members receive. So they knew that he was the best person for the job,” she said.

Police Informant and Getaway Vehicle Also Tied to Investigation

Police also linked another individual to the killing — Wiandre Pretorius, a police informant believed to have connections to the Madlanga Commission.

Pretorius died by suicide at a petrol station in Brakpan earlier this year.

Mathe said investigators believe Pretorius drove the Suzuki Swift used in the shooting. The vehicle was later traced back to Sotheni’s girlfriend.

The connection between the car, the alleged driver and the suspected gunman forms a key part of the ongoing investigation.

SAPS Calls Arrest ‘Unfortunate’ but Necessary

The arrest of a former member of the police’s elite unit has been described as deeply troubling by the SAPS.

“[It is] quite an unfortunate day for us as the SAPS, having a former member of the SAPS being arrested on a very serious charge in relation to the murder of Witness D,” said national police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe.

She noted that the training invested in Special Task Force members is extensive and costly.

“When you look at the cost that it takes to train a Special Task Force member, each member costs more than R1 million to train. It’s quite a loss for the SAPS. But at the same time, it’s good that we rid our organisation of corrupt and criminal elements that do not deserve to be in a blue uniform,” she said.

Mathe added that investigators have questioned two additional individuals as part of the probe into van der Merwe’s killing. The investigation remains ongoing.