Former police officer denied bail in witness murder case

A former South African Police Service Special Task Force officer has been denied bail in connection with the murder of a key witness who testified before a judicial commission. Matipandile Sotheni will remain in custody after the Brakpan Magistrates Court ruled on Monday that he failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances justifying his release.

Sotheni faces 16 charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and three counts of attempted murder, related to the killing of Marius van der Merwe. Van der Merwe, known as Witness D, was shot dead at his Brakpan home on December 5, 2025. His wife and two children were present but survived the attack. He had testified weeks earlier before the Madlanga Commission, which is investigating alleged misconduct within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department. During his testimony, he implicated law enforcement officials in the alleged murder of another man, Emmanuel Mbhense.

In her ruling, Magistrate Tlakale Sathekge found the state had established a likelihood that Sotheni could interfere with witnesses and tamper with evidence if released. She noted several state witnesses are known to him and that his specialized training...