LISTEN| Hours Before His Killing, Witness D Named State Role Players In Explosive Voice Note

A WhatsApp voice note recorded only hours before his assassination has thrust renewed attention on the late Marius van der Merwe, also known as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission.

The message, shared widely on X, captures Van der Merwe declaring his intention to reveal what he described as state officials’ involvement in enabling illegal gold-mining networks.

Van der Merwe, a former Ekurhuleni police reservist, was gunned down outside his Brakpan home on 5 December 2025.

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In the audio clip, he reaches out to eNCA journalist Yusuf Abramjee, saying he was ready to go public with intelligence he had gathered on state-linked role players.

Transcript:
Marius van der Merwe: “Mr. Abramjee, I hope you’re well… Sir. It’s me, Marius van der Merwe.
Sir, I’ve seen your post about the Zama Zama that was allegedly buried alive in Benoni.

“I’m the person who’s been there on the ground. Obviously, there are things that transpired beforehand and afterwards, and I’d like to talk to you about it.

“I’d like to get my story out in public—in terms of the role players from the state that are facilitating the illegal mining problem, the key stakeholders. I’ve got all the intelligence on that.”

LISTEN TO THE VOICE NOTE BELOW: 

Witness D Assassination After Prior Attempt Raises Fears for Whistleblowers

Van der Merwe had recently testified before the Madlanga Commission, where he presented allegations concerning suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Chief Julius Mkhwanazi.

His killing came after a previous attempt on his life, igniting alarm over the escalating risk faced by witnesses exposing criminal infiltration and political interference in law-enforcement structures.

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The timing of the murder—just after his message indicating willingness to go public—has intensified scrutiny on the safety of individuals providing evidence to national inquiries.

Political Leaders Condemn Murder as Pressure Mounts on Authorities

President Cyril Ramaphosa, along with several opposition parties, has condemned the assassination, calling it a chilling attack on those supporting efforts to dismantle illegal mining syndicates.

Leaders across the political spectrum say the murder underscores the urgent need for stronger witness-protection measures, particularly for those linked to high-risk investigations.

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