‘He was always there to help’: Loved ones mourn slain Madlanga Commission witness
Marius van der Merwe
Image: SUPPLIED
If he had only R10 left in his pocket and someone else needed it more, he would hand it over without a second thought.
Those who knew him say that was exactly who Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe was — a man who helped wherever he could, even when he had little himself.
Van der Merwe, 41, was shot dead outside his Brakpan home on Friday night.
It was, according to those close to him, the second attempt on his life.
Police said he had just pulled up at home with his wife and children.
Moments after stepping out of his vehicle and walking towards the gate, shots from an AK-47 automatic rifle were fired just before 8pm.
He died at the scene.
It is understood that his firearm, cellphone and wallet were all found on him.
No one else was injured, and the gunman fled.
Gauteng’s acting provincial commissioner, Major-General Fred Kekana, said all available national and provincial forensic resources had been brought in.
“No stone will be left unturned and no evidence that may assist the investigation is overlooked, uncollected or unanalysed,” he said.
Van der Merwe owned a private security company, QRF Task Team, and recently testified under the alias “Witness D” before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
In November, he gave evidence about the 2022 murder of a robbery suspect in Brakpan — allegations that pointed to a suspended senior metro police officer.
He testified that the then-acting deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, Julius Mkhwanazi, had allegedly instructed that the suspect’s body be dumped “in a mineshaft or in a dam”.
Van der Merwe told the commission he feared for his life.
He said if he did not comply with the conspiracy to cover up the murder “I would probably be next”.
André van der Westhuizen
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His close friend and industry colleague André van der Westhuizen said he had known Van der Merwe for years and described him as someone who never turned away from a difficult job.
“He was a good friend,” Van der Westhuizen, Kopaneng Security owner, said.
“Wherever you needed assistance, he would have taken his last cent — his last R10 — to give you food or petrol or anything like that.
"He was always there to assist where he could.”
He said Van der Merwe founded QRF in 2023.
Van der Westhuizen said Van der Merwe’s practical experience in private security meant he was often called to help in tough situations.
"Vlam was actively fighting against the zama-zamas," he said.
"He was clearing the mines from the zama-zamas.
“Our very saddest condolences to the family and his friends, especially his wife and his kids ... I’m going to miss him a lot.”
Anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee said Van der Merwe had long been active in the fight against the zama-zamas.
"He was first fighting against them on the West Rand and later on the East Rand," he said.
"He was deeply involved in efforts against illegal mining and crime."
Abramjee said he was contacted by Van der Merwe on Wednesday.
"I didn’t know him, but he asked for an interview with me on eNCA," he said.
He said he wanted to talk about several issues, mainly his role in fighting illegal mining and the zama-zamas.
"He was responding to a post I had shared earlier.
"I asked him how we could do a television interview if we couldn’t show his face or reveal his identity.
"He told me he had decided he was willing to show his face and give his name, because he feared he might be shot dead in the coming days.
"He also said he wanted to expose people within the state who, as he put it, were involved with the zama-zamas.
"That was the main reason he wanted the interview."
Abramjee said he agreed to speak to him on Thursday afternoon, but the commission ran late and he couldn’t make it.
"So we postponed the interview to this coming Monday."
GOOD's Brett Herron said the party was concerned about the protection of whistleblowers and witnesses.
"If witnesses and whistleblowers are not protected, they will be unlikely to come forward, fearing the consequences of doing so," he said.
"The tragic killing of Van der Merwe lays bare how dangerous testifying can be, even for witnesses who remain anonymous on the stand.
"Their testimony can lead to their identification, which may well have been the case in this instance."
The DA said his murder showed just how important it was to strengthen whistleblower protection in SA.
"For years, the DA has warned that the absence of proper safeguarding measures leaves those who expose wrongdoing vulnerable to exactly this kind of targeted violence," it said.
"The DA is calling for the immediate protection of all witnesses and whistleblowers involved in the Madlanga Commission and in every other investigation into criminality and corruption.
"If people fear for their lives when they testify, our justice system collapses."
President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said government will redouble its efforts to protect whistleblowers.
He said it included witnesses before the Madlanga Commission.
"And the commission itself, as they serve the nation with bravery in the face of criminal threats."
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