Police are hunting for another suspect in the assassination of Marius van der Merwe after the alleged shooter was arrested on Saturday, national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola said.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with the December 5 killing of Van der Merwe.
He was known as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission.
Van der Merwe, who was shot dead at his Brakpan home, was a member of the security industry and a former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department official.
Shortly before his murder, Van der Merwe had testified at the commission.
During a press briefing on the SA National Defence Force and police’s joint operation to fight crime, Masemola said: “We are thankful we have made a breakthrough in the murder of Witness D.
“The person will appear in court on Monday.”
He said the police are hunting for another suspect
“One of the suspects… were are still hunting them,” he said.
“More will come out as time goes on.”
He refused to comment on the motive for the murder.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said: “The task team established to investigate cases emanating from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry have registered their first breakthrough with the arrest of a suspect believed to be the shooter in the Marius van der Merwe murder case.
“The vehicle believed to have been used on the day that Witness D was murdered has also been seized.”
Meanwhile, the Madlanga Commission has welcomed the arrest.
“The commission urges the relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure justice for the families of all those affected by people who are attempting to resist accountability for their alleged acts of criminality,” said spokesperson Jeremy Michaels.
IOL
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now
