Justice Minister Urges Madlanga Commission to ban live broadcasting of witnesses

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi wants a review of how witnesses testify at the Madlanga Commission.

This follows the killing of Witness D, identified as Marius van der Merwe, who was shot dead at his home in Brakpan last night.

Van der Merwe had given evidence about the 2022 murder of a robbery suspect and an alleged cover-up involving suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) acting chief Julius Mkhwanazi.

Kubayi used her media briefing in Pretoria on Saturday to raise concerns about the safety of people who appear before the Madlanga Commission.

She said witness identities must be protected at all times, adding that public access to information should never come at the cost of someone’s life.

"We were concerned by the fact that the public and the media were able to identify Mr van der Merwe as Witness D, I didn't know commissioners didn't know who Witness D is, neither many of those who work expect those who worked directly to get the statement, and this worries us a lot.”

Kubayi added that the commission had informed her that van der Merwe had chosen not to enter the witness protection programme.

She warned that prioritising transparency over protection of witnesses could put them at risk and undermine the fight against corruption and organised crime.

"It concerns us. We say if it was known that it was Mr van der Merwe, but the fact that within a testimony, his testimony could be linked to him while he was not really identified, means that there is a need for us to look at this.”