Quick Profile
| Profile | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Marius van der Merwe |
| Also Known As | “Vlam”, “Witness D” |
| Nationality | South African |
| Former Position | Officer, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) |
| Later Role | Founder / Owner — QRF Task Team (private security company) |
| Activism | Whistle-blower on corruption & alleged cover-ups; Anti-illegal mining enforcement |
| Date of Death | 5 December 2025 (shot dead outside his home in Brakpan) |
| Key Public Role | Testified at Madlanga Commission (Nov 14 2025) exposing police wrongdoing. |
Early Life & Background
Public records about Marius van der Merwe’s childhood, early background, and personal history remain sparse. What is known, however, reflects a man whose later life was shaped by his experiences in law enforcement and security — and later by a commitment to rooting out corruption and crime.
Formerly an officer with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), he later left that role under circumstances tied to the events he would eventually expose.
Information about his family, upbringing, early education, or private life before policing has not been made public at this time. This likely reflects both the sensitivity of his later whistle-blowing role and a desire on his or his family’s part to maintain privacy.
Career Path: From EMPD Officer to Private Security and Anti-Crime Activist
Service with EMPD
While serving with the EMPD, van der Merwe was in a position to observe — and allegedly be ordered to carry out — questionable and criminal activities. According to his testimony at the Madlanga Commission, in 2022 he was instructed by then EMPD head (and now-suspended official) to dispose of a body of a suspect who died in police custody — an order he eventually defied by reporting the matter.
This experience reportedly marked a turning point in his life, leading him to resign from the EMPD.
Founding QRF Task Team & Anti-Crime / Anti-Illegal Mining Work
In June 2023, van der Merwe founded the QRF Task Team, a private security company. His vision was to deploy small, specialized teams tailored to clients’ needs — particularly in the mining and residential sectors.
Through QRF, he became known for enforcement actions against illegal mining operations — notably “zama zama” (illegal miners) shafts. In recent months before his death, his firm regularly targeted illicit mining sites around the East Rand (the greater Johannesburg area), closing shafts used by illegal miners.
This direct confrontation with criminal networks earned van der Merwe both respect among residents and notoriety among unlawful groups. His commitment to “cleaning up” areas like the former informal settlement “Plastic City,” restoring mining-memorial sites (such as the Rand Miners Revolt memorial), and keeping communities informed about illicit mining activity were singled out by community activists.
He was described by some local residents as “a hero in our community” — someone passionate about justice, accountability, and public safety.
Whistle-Blower Role & Testimony at Madlanga Commission
The Madlanga Commission & State Testimony
In 2025, the South African government established the Madlanga Commission — formally the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System — to investigate deep corruption, political interference, and criminal collusion within parts of the criminal justice system.
On 14 November 2025, van der Merwe stepped forward as “Witness D,” providing harrowing testimony. He alleged senior involvement from the then-head of EMPD in a 2022 murder cover-up. Specifically, he said he was ordered to dispose of a suspect’s body who had died in custody — a claim the implicated official denied under oath.
He also claimed that the suspect had been tortured (plastic bag over head, suffocation) until he “confessed,” after which he allegedly died — a account that, if proven, exposes systemic brutality within law enforcement.
Van der Merwe eventually resigned from EMPD, citing moral reasons.
This bold testimony placed him directly in the crosshairs of both crime syndicates (in illegal mining) and possibly corrupt or complicit law-enforcement actors.
Public Exposure & Risk
Though referred to only as “Witness D” during the commission, the public revealing of his identity after his murder led to wide condemnation of authorities for failing to protect him — especially given that he had reportedly warned journalists that he believed his “days were numbered.”
Just two weeks before his death, van der Merwe survived an alleged assassination attempt when a bakkie tried to ram him off the road in Brakpan. He reportedly engaged in a gunfight near the former Plastic City settlement.
Despite this, he declined formal witness protection — reportedly opting to rely on his own private security company.
Circumstances of Death — Assassination & Aftermath
The Killing
On the evening of 5 December 2025, van der Merwe was gunned down outside his home in Brakpan shortly after 20:30 as he opened his gate after returning home with his wife. Witnesses said two gunmen — reportedly driving a white Nissan NP200 pickup — opened fire with assault rifles (AK-47s). Nothing was stolen; his firearm, phone, and wallet remained on his person, strongly indicating a targeted hit.
Police have launched a nationwide manhunt. The national police commissioner has deployed ballistic, crime intelligence, and serious-crime units.
Multiple political parties and civil-society organisations, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), have condemned the assassination, describing it as a brazen attempt to silence truth-tellers and intimidate whistle-blowers.
National Response & Calls for Reform
The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, publicly condemned the killing as “a direct assault on democracy, accountability and the rule of law.” He vowed to strengthen protection measures for whistle-blowers and witnesses involved in the Madlanga Commission and similar inquiries.
There is mounting pressure on police and investigators to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly. The incident has sparked outrage across communities, with growing concern that other pending witnesses may now retract or fear to testify.
Why Marius van der Merwe’s Story Matters
1. A Symbol of Courage & Risk for Whistle-blowers
Van der Merwe embodied the dangerous reality faced by people who choose to expose wrongdoing. As “Witness D,” he took a stand against powerful interest groups — law-enforcement insiders, corrupt officials, and criminal networks — fully aware of the risks. His death is a stark reminder of how high those risks can run.
2. Spotlight on Corruption, Police Brutality & Illegal Mining
His testimony implicated senior police officials in torture, cover-ups, and misconduct — allegations with deep ramifications for South Africa’s justice system and public trust. Further, his active role against illegal mining (zama zama) sheds light on how criminal mining networks may operate with or under the protection of corrupt individuals.
3. Institutional Failures & the Need for Effective Whistle-blower Protection
That he declined state-provided witness protection (or reportedly did) and was still vulnerable emphasizes systemic gaps. His murder, soon after his public disclosure, underscores the urgency for robust, enforced whistle-blower and witness-protection mechanisms in South Africa.
4. Impact on Ongoing Investigations & Public Confidence
The assassination threatens to chill other potential witnesses. There are already reports of other individuals expressing fear or considering withdrawing testimony. This jeopardizes the broader mission of the Madlanga Commission and may undermine efforts at accountability and reform.
Public Reaction & Community Grief
Communities in Brakpan and the greater East Rand — where van der Merwe was active against illegal mining — are reportedly “shattered.” Local activist groups recalled him as a man committed to justice, public safety, and community upliftment.
Social-media reactions and statements from civil society organizations have voiced alarm that his killing could embolden corrupt actors and criminal syndicates by showing that witnesses can be silenced with impunity.
Calls have intensified for reforms — not just in policing and investigation, but structural protections for whistle-blowers, transparent vetting, and accountability across government and private security sectors.
Questions Raised & Unanswered — What’s Next?
- Who ordered the hit? While van der Merwe publicly implicated individuals connected to corruption and police misconduct, investigations have only just begun. It remains unclear whether the assassination was ordered by illegal-mining syndicates, corrupt police factions, or an entirely different criminal element. Some forensic investigators speculated that his involvement in both the Madlanga testimony and anti-illegal mining operations mean there could be multiple motives.
- Why was state protection declined / ineffective? Reports say he declined formal protection, believing his private security firm was sufficient — a decision that may have left him exposed. Observers now question whether he was properly advised, or whether whistle-blower safeguards in South Africa remain insufficient.
- Will the Madlanga Commission survive? With a key witness assassinated, some fear other witnesses will withdraw or go silent — potentially derailing efforts to uncover systemic corruption and criminal collusion.
- Will the perpetrators be brought to justice? With a police manhunt underway, hopes remain high but past failures in prosecuting politically or criminally connected murders in South Africa cast doubt.
Legacy of Marius van der Merwe
Marius van der Merwe leaves behind a complex but powerful legacy. He was a former police officer turned truth-teller and private security entrepreneur — but above all, a man who chose to speak out even when silence would have been safer.
He made real efforts to clean up illegal mining in his community, protect citizens, and expose corruption and criminality from within law enforcement itself. His violent death may attempt to silence him — but the outcry, grief, and demands for justice his murder has triggered may make his sacrifice spark broader reform.
If anything, van der Merwe’s story risks sending a chilling warning: truth-tellers remain vulnerable. But it also highlights what needs to change — strong protections, justice for whistle-blowers, accountability for crimes with possible institutional backing.
Conclusion
The assassination of Marius van der Merwe is tragic, shocking, and deeply destabilizing — especially given his role as a whistle-blower for the public good and justice. His testimony at the Madlanga Commission, his work against illegal mining, and his open warnings about threats against his life demonstrate his courage and integrity.
At the same time, his murder exposes glaring systemic failures — in witness protection, policing oversight, and secure pursuit of justice. If South Africa is to progress, his death must not become just another statistic. His sacrifice should be a catalyst: for reform, protection of truth-tellers, and renewed commitment to accountability and transparency.
Disclaimer: This biography is compiled from publicly available information and is meant solely for informational purposes. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, certain details may vary or be open to interpretation.
