Keypoints:
- Whistleblower shot after testimony
- Ramaphosa vows protections
- Rights groups warn of fear
SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the killing of whistleblower Marius Van der Merwe, who was shot dead weeks after testifying in a police abuse inquiry. The president described the attack as an attempt to undermine the rule of law and pledged stronger protection for those who come forward with evidence of official wrongdoing.
Van der Merwe, a former officer in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), was gunned down on Friday night in front of his family. His identity had been hidden during testimony under the codename Witness D, but became public following his killing. According to reporting from the judicial inquiry and Ramaphosa’s official statement, his evidence linked serving and suspended officers to attempts to conceal a death in police custody.
In a statement attributed to the presidency, Ramaphosa said he was ‘appalled and saddened’ by the killing, and extended condolences to the victim’s family. ‘My thoughts are with the deeply traumatised family… they faced death in circumstances that suggest Van der Merwe’s brave testimony angered elements in our society who want to undermine the rule of law and set back the quest for truth and consequences in the fight against corruption,’ he said.
Testimony exposing alleged cover-up
Van der Merwe’s testimony came before a judicial commission established in July to investigate alleged criminality in the justice system, including politically motivated killings. The commission is led by former Constitutional Court judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
During the hearings, which have been covered by South African media, Van der Merwe alleged that suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi instructed him to dispose of the body of a suspect who died in police custody in 2022. By then no longer a serving officer, he told the inquiry that he obeyed the order and dumped the body in a dam. Both Mkhwanazi and suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu have denied wrongdoing during their own appearances before the commission.
The commission was set up after a provincial police chief accused senior officials, including Mchunu, of interfering with investigations into politically linked killings. Ramaphosa later suspended Mchunu amid allegations that he dismantled a specialist investigative team to protect politically connected figures. Reporting from the hearings has highlighted concerns about the integrity of policing in parts of Gauteng province.
Rights groups warn of chilling effect
Amnesty International South Africa condemned the killing, warning that it could silence future whistleblowers. In a statement reported by local media, the organisation said the murder was ‘not only an attack on an individual but on justice and accountability in South Africa’. The group said effective witness protection was essential to uncovering wrongdoing in state institutions.
Human rights advocates argue that the attack highlights gaps in the country’s witness protection framework. Campaigners have called for urgent reforms to reassure potential witnesses who fear reprisals, especially in cases involving security officials or politically connected suspects.
Government pledges stronger protections
Ramaphosa vowed to strengthen safeguards for whistleblowers and witnesses. ‘As government, we will redouble our efforts to protect whistleblowers, including witnesses… as they serve the nation with bravery in the face of criminal threats,’ he said. The president added that South Africa must remain resolute in confronting corruption within the police and other state bodies.
The killing has sparked fresh debate over witness safety and accountability for crimes linked to law enforcement. As the judicial commission continues to hear evidence, its findings are expected to shape public and political conversations around policing and corruption in the months ahead.
