A man accused of murdering a witness who testified in secret at the Commission investigating the allegations made by the KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, will appear in court today.
The suspect arrested for the murder of Mr Marius Van Der Merwe will appear at the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng.
The suspect was arrested by a police team investigating the cases based on evidence presented before the Commission led by Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
Van Der Merwe was named after he was accused of corruption in the Kurhuleni Municipal Police.
During his testimony last year, Van Der Merwe criticized police officers in the Kurhuleni Municipality who accused him of being involved in murder and theft cases.
Police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said the suspect was robbed of Sigonyela’s bracelets in Gauteng, on Saturday.
Brigadier Mathe said the police are continuing to collect evidence from the suspect’s residence.
“The police raided the suspect’s residences, ransacked them and seized items they thought could help in the investigation.”
Brigadier Mathe said the police also seized the car that was used when Van Der Merwe was killed.
Another suspect involved in the death of Van Der Merwe, Mr Wiandre Pretorius, killed himself last month.
Pretorius was also involved in the Van Der Merwe case, which he spoke about when he appeared before the commission, which is the case of the murder of Mr. Emmanuel Mbhense.
Mbhense’s body was found dumped in the river, it is suspected that he died after being beaten by the Kurhuleni Municipal police and other people who worked for the security agencies.
There are 12 people involved in the case of Mbhense’s death, three are yet to be named.
Brigadier Mathe said the National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola, commended the police team that arrested the suspect.
The team was established after the order of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa issued an order to establish a team after receiving the first report of the Madlanga Commission which will continue to listen to witnesses this week.
Last week, the commission cooked in a small pot the head of the unit that fights organized crime, Major General Richard Shibiri and a businessman who is a member of the ANC, Mr. Carrim Suleiman.
Shibiri and Suleiman are accused of being close to businessmen facing a series of charges, Mr. Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and Mr. Katiso “KT” Molefe.