Police seize more than 3,500 unlicensed firearms between April and Sep

While police search for those behind the murder of a witness from the Madlanaga Commission of Inquiry and the weapon used in the crime, they have seized more than 3,500 illegal firearms in just five months this year.

Marius van der Merwe, who testified as Witness D before the commission, was gunned down with an AK-47 in front of his wife at his Brakpan home on Friday night.

Last month, van der Merwe testified about the 2022 murder of a robbery suspect in Brakpan, and an alleged cover-up involving suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) acting chief Julius Mkhwanazi.

On Saturday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that stronger measures will be put in place to protect witnesses from the commission.

The national police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, said the case is a priority and confirmed that the murder weapon has not yet been recovered.

"Between April and September, we seized more than 3,500 illegal and unlicensed firearms, and we will continue on that trajectory to ensure these weapons are permanently.”