Police say Matipandile Sotheni, once a member of the Special Task Force, Maripandile Sotheni, 41, pulled the trigger in the December drive-by shooting that killed whistleblower Marius van der Merwe.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
Matipandile Sotheni, a 41-year-old former member of the elite police task force, stands accused of murdering Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D for the Madlanga Commission.
On Monday, police disclosed that Sotheni was the gunman responsible for the drive-by shooting that claimed van der Merwe's life outside his home in Brakpan on December 5, 2025.
National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said that Wiandre Pretorius, a police informant linked to the Madlanga Commission, who died by suicide at a petrol station in Brakpan, was also implicated in van der Merwe's murder and drove the Suzuki Swift that was later traced to Sotheni’s girlfriend.
According to police, Sotheni joined the elite Special Task Force in 2010.
Mathe said Sotheni joined the SAPS in 2005 and later the elite Special Task Force. He resigned in 2019 and moved into the private sector.
This, she said, will give one insight into how Sotheni operated.
"It tells you that he would execute and eliminate Witness D on the spot because of the training that our special task force members receive. So they knew that he was the best person for the job," she said.
"[It is] quite an unfortunate day for us as the SAPS, having a former member of the SAPS being arrested on a very serious charge in relation to the murder of Witness D," said national police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe.
"When you look at the cost that it takes to train a Special Task Force member, each member costs more than R1 million to train. It’s quite a loss for the SAPS. But at the same time, it's good that we rid our organisation of corrupt and criminal elements that do not deserve to be in a blue uniform," she said.
Mathe said the investigation team has also interviewed two other people in connection with van der Merwe's murder.
Police say Matipandile Sotheni, once part of the Special Task Force, was the gunman in the drive-by shooting that killed Marius van der Merwe, who had exposed alleged corruption in the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
It was previously reported that Pretorius had survived a previous shooting, when his car was reportedly hit 16 times. He was named in the alleged murder of Emmanuel Mbhense, whose body was found dumped at Duduza Dam in Nigel in April 2022. That investigation is still underway.
Van der Merwe, a former EMPD officer and security specialist, had testified before the commission in November last year, revealing alleged misconduct within the EMPD and blowing the whistle on Mbhense’s murder.
Sotheni cut a lonely figure, standing in the dock of the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Monday, dressed in black.
Heavily armed police officers stood guard outside, while more officers stood inside the court.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, said Sotheni faces a charge of conspiracy to commit murder, premeditated murder, three counts of attempted murder and unlawful position of ammunition.
Mahanjana, said Sotheni is set to appear in court on March 25, where the State plans to oppose bail.