Ramaphosa Condemns Murder Of Witness D: “We Must Find The Perpetrators Of This Heinous Crime”

President Cyril Ramaphosa has sharply criticised the murder of Marius van der Merwe — widely known as Witness D — calling the attack “heinous” and urging investigators to establish precisely what led to his death.

Speaking on Saturday at COSATU’s 40th anniversary celebration in Dobsonville, Soweto, Ramaphosa said, “The killing of Witness D, Mr Van der Merwe as we have now come to know, is terribly, terribly unacceptable.”

“We are devastated by his killing, and I’ve said to the minister they must make sure that the investigation is thorough,” he said, adding, “They must leave no stone unturned until we find the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”

Ramaphosa, attending the event as ANC president, warned that attacks on individuals who expose wrongdoing within the security sector threaten to silence others who may be willing to speak out.

President Links Killing to Ongoing Security Cluster Rot

“It’s not acceptable that witnesses who are unravelling things and revealing the rot that has been prevalent in our security cluster are now, as they tell the truth, getting killed themselves,” he said.

“We must now focus on witness protection. The witness protection programme must be taken to a higher level, and I want the results of this investigation as quickly as possible. We cannot allow this level of lawlessness, particularly in the security cluster, to continue.”

Ramaphosa noted that the findings of the Madlanga Commission would be fully implemented, saying, “It is through what is being revealed in the Madlanga Commission that we will be able to get to the bottom of the capture of the police that has been going on for quite a long time.”

Van der Merwe, 41, was shot dead outside his Brakpan, Gauteng, home on Friday evening in front of his wife and children. Police confirmed an AK-47 automatic rifle was used in the attack. The suspects fled in a white Nissan NP200 bakkie with a canopy, and a manhunt is under way.

Witness Protection Under Scrutiny After Fatal Shooting

Police verified that Van der Merwe was not under witness protection despite his testimony last month about a 2022 incident central to his appearance before the commission.

Known as “the man with the bakkie”, he alleged that suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) acting chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi had instructed him to dispose of the body of a suspect killed by EMPD officers in an attempted cover-up.

In partially in-camera testimony, he recounted arriving at a scene involving EMPD officers linked to Mkhwanazi, two SAPS members and alleged SAPS informant Jaco Hanekom. He described how the suspect was suffocated in a bedroom.

Earlier on Saturday, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi confirmed Van der Merwe had turned down a formal witness protection offer. “He was offered protection, which he declined,” she said, explaining that he believed his private security company could safeguard him. “He didn’t think he needed it, and he runs his own security company.”

Kubayi said the government is now urgently reassessing how witnesses are protected and allowed to testify. She expressed concern that Van der Merwe’s identity became public, saying, “We are deeply concerned that his identity became known.”

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“If transparency supersedes protection, we will not achieve witness safety in this country. Our fight against corruption and organised crime will be compromised.”

The commission had initially intended to hear the sensitive testimony in camera but reversed the decision following legal threats from media organisations. Kubayi urged the public and press to understand the dangers faced by witnesses. “Public interest can never come above the right to life,” she said.

Ramaphosa had earlier expressed condolences to the family, praising Van der Merwe’s courage and vowing stronger safeguards for whistle-blowers. “We will redouble our efforts to protect witnesses before the Madlanga Commission and the commission itself,” he said.

The commission of inquiry also condemned the killing and extended condolences to the Van der Merwe family.

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