Police identify suspects in assassination of Madlanga Commission Witness D, Marius van der Merwe

Police have confirmed that three persons of interest have been identified and one has been taken in for questioning following Friday's assassination of Witness D at the Madlanga Commission, Marius van der Merwe. 

Addressing the media following a walkabout in Saulsville on Monday, national police commissioner, Gen Fannie Masemola, said the investigating team is confident that there will soon be a breakthrough in the case. 

Affectionately known as “Vlam”, van der Merwe, was gunned down in a hit in Brakpan in full view of his wife and children. 

Three weeks ago, van der Merwe implicated Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi in wrongdoing, claiming that Mkhwanazi ordered him to cover up a murder of a suspect at the hands of EMPD and SAPS officers.

Meanwhile, CCTV footage that has since emerged from Friday night's shooting shows van der Merwe talking to the men believed to be behind the assassination. 

"We are confident that soon we will register a breakthrough as police remain on high alert for those behind the killing of Mr van der Merwe. Safe to say, investigations are on the right track.

"The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure NATJOINTS together with the Madlanga Commission has met and developed a plan to heighten and enhance security around officials and witnesses linked to the commission," Masemola said. 

IOL