Home / Crime and Justice / Ex-Cop Charged in Witness Assassination Plot
Ex-Cop Charged in Witness Assassination Plot
16 Mar
Summary
- Former elite unit member charged with murder of a whistleblower.
- Victim testified against police corruption, implicating officials.
- Suspect also faces attempted murder charges for victim's family.
A former elite police unit member, Matipandile Sotheni, 41, has been charged with the murder of Marius van der Merwe, a whistleblower. The killing occurred in December of the previous year. Van der Merwe had testified before the Madlanga commission, known as a major police corruption inquiry. His testimony implicated police officials in the torture and murder of a robbery suspect.
This testimony was pivotal, exposing widespread police corruption and leading to the suspension of several named officers. Tragically, Van der Merwe was shot dead in front of his family. In addition to the murder charge, Sotheni faces charges for attempting to kill Van der Merwe's wife and children. The case was postponed to March 26 for a bail application.
