Vehicle linked to murder of Madlanga Commission Witness D found abandoned in Alexandra

One of the two vehicles believed to have been used in the assassination of Madlanga Commission witness Marius van der Merwe has been found abandoned in Alexandra township, north of Johannesburg, police confirmed Monday evening.

National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola said the vehicle, a white Chevrolet bakkie, matches the description of the vehicle seen on CCTV footage minutes before van der Merwe was shot outside his home in Brakpan. The bakkie was discovered on Saturday morning on a gravel dead-end road among shacks. It has since been impounded and moved to a forensic laboratory for further analysis by crime-scene experts and the vehicle-crime investigations unit.

Masilemo said two vehicles were used during the attack — the white bakkie and a sedan, but only the bakkie has been recovered so far. Investigators continue to search for the second vehicle.

The discovery offers a rare lead in the high-stakes investigation. Police have already identified three persons of interest; one of them has been taken in for questioning. Masimola said the national investigative team and crime intelligence officers are optimistic that recent developments will soon yield a breakthrough.

Van der Merwe, a former metro police officer turned security-company owner, was shot dead outside his house in Brakpan on Friday evening in front of his wife and children. He had testified under the alias “Witness D” before the Madlanga Commission about allegations of a police cover-up and corruption involving senior officers.

His murder sparked outrage and renewed debate about the effectiveness of witness protection in South Africa. Although he was offered protection by the state, van der Merwe reportedly declined, stating he believed his own private security firm could safeguard him.

In response to the killing, law-enforcement and security cluster officials have convened under the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) and the Madlanga Commission to review and strengthen protections for commission witnesses and officials.

For now, the recovered bakkie offers a glimmer of hope for investigators. Forensic tests on the vehicle may help trace the killers, recover the murder weapon, and possibly lead to arrests — a critical step toward justice in a case that has shaken public confidence and ignited calls for urgent reform.