Assassinated Whistleblower Marius van der Merwe
Brakpan, South Africa – In a haunting revelation that has sent shockwaves through the nation, assassinated whistleblower Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission, sent a desperate voice note to anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee just days before his murder, expressing fears for his life and a burning desire to expose high-level corruption in illegal mining. Van der Merwe was gunned down outside his Brakpan home on Friday, 5 December 2025, in a brazen ambush witnessed by his wife and two children. The 45-year-old former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) official and security expert had survived a previous assassination attempt in September, but his warnings of being targeted proved tragically prophetic. As investigations intensify, questions swirl around witness protection failures and the chilling reality of a “mafia state” where truth-tellers pay the ultimate price.
This tragedy has reignited scrutiny of South Africa’s witness protection programme and the dangers faced by those combating corruption. Van der Merwe’s death, linked to his explosive testimony at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Alleged Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System (Madlanga Commission), underscores the perilous fight against syndicates infiltrating law enforcement and local government.
The Final Voice Note: ‘I Want to Speak Out Before They Kill Me’
In the voice note sent to Abramjee on Wednesday, 3 December 2025 – mere hours before his death – Van der Merwe pleaded for a platform to go public. “I know who is behind the Zama Zama nightmare at the highest levels, and I want to speak!” he said, referring to the illicit networks controlling illegal mining operations across Gauteng’s East Rand. Abramjee, speaking on 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa, revealed that Van der Merwe insisted on revealing his identity despite the risks.
During follow-up calls on Wednesday and Thursday, Van der Merwe told Abramjee: “I’ve now decided I want to show my face. I want to show my identity and reveal my identity because I don’t have long to live. They are going to kill me.” When pressed on who “they” were, he replied, “Mr Abramjee, I will reveal it all in the interview that we are going to do if you allow me to do it.” Tragically, the interview never happened, as Van der Merwe was assassinated the next evening.
Abramjee described the killing as evidence of South Africa descending into a “mafia state,” where lives are “simply cheap.” He emphasised the vulnerability of whistleblowers: “It again shows that we are living in a mafia state. It again shows you how people’s lives are simply cheap in South Africa.”
The Ambush: A Brazen Attack in Front of Family
Van der Merwe, affectionately known as “Vlam” in security circles, was ambushed outside his home around 7pm on Friday. Gunmen hiding in nearby bushes opened fire with an AK-47 as he arrived, riddling his vehicle with bullets. He was killed instantly, while his wife and two children, who were with him, miraculously survived unharmed. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with the family left traumatised by the violence.
Police have launched a manhunt, believing the attackers may be the same group responsible for a September 2025 attempt on his life. In that incident, men in a white bakkie fired at Van der Merwe, prompting him to open an attempted murder case at the Brakpan police station. Despite these threats, Van der Merwe reportedly declined offers of witness protection, confident in his own security measures from his firm, Tactical Security Solutions. His wife later confirmed to media that protection was discussed but not pursued, raising alarms about gaps in the system.
Link to Madlanga Commission: Exposing a Murder Cover-Up and Cartels
Van der Merwe testified at the Madlanga Commission as Witness D on 19 November 2025, less than three weeks before his death. He exposed a shocking murder cover-up plot involving disgraced police officials in Ekurhuleni, detailing how corrupt elements allegedly shielded criminals tied to drug cartels and organised syndicates. His revelations included internal documents falsified to portray extrajudicial killings as lawful operations, despite evidence of brutality.
Commission insiders suggest his testimony got him “too close” to powerful figures, making him a target. Tau, a political commentator, noted in recent analysis that Van der Merwe’s killing exemplifies “municipality capture” in Ekurhuleni, where syndicates infiltrate law enforcement. “We don’t know what led to him being assassinated… One hopes that those that did this to him will be arrested soon,” Tau said.
The commission, probing state capture-like issues in the criminal justice system, has heightened security for witnesses following the murder. NATJOINTS met with officials on Saturday to bolster protections, identifying needs to involve more role players like the SANDF and SSA.
Previous Survival and Warnings: A Life Under Threat
Van der Merwe had long warned of being targeted. Abramjee revealed that he expressed fears during their conversations, saying his days were numbered due to his whistleblowing. In September 2025, he survived an attack by gunmen in a white bakkie, which he reported as attempted murder. Police denied knowledge of an active investigation at the time, but now link it to Friday’s killing.
As a Brakpan-based security expert and former EMPD official, Van der Merwe was deeply involved in anti-crime operations against Zama Zamas (illegal miners) on the East Rand. His work exposed high-level complicity, including ties to senior state role players allegedly facilitating the illicit trade. “And if I were to mention their names, I would also be killed,” an activist commented, highlighting the dangers.
Calls for Better Witness Protection and Fears for Others
The assassination has amplified demands for stronger safeguards. Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi noted Van der Merwe declined protection, believing his firm sufficed – a decision now questioned as a “serious security breach.” Abramjee echoed this, stating it shows whistleblowers’ vulnerability.
Experts fear this could deter others from coming forward. “His death raises fears that others with critical information about illegal mining and police involvement will be too afraid to come forward,” reports indicate. The Madlanga Commission has faced similar threats, with scams impersonating Justice Madlanga and witnesses reconsidering testimonies.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu condemned the killing, vowing swift justice. Investigations continue, with forensic teams analysing CCTV footage from the scene.
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