Mapaballo Borotho

- IPID has identified Wiandre Pretorius as a person of interest in the murder of Witness D, Marius Van der Merwe.
- Witness D was killed after testifying about an alleged EMPD cover-up involving the disposal of a body.
- Pretorius died by suicide days after surviving an attempted hit at his Boksburg home.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has identified Wiandre Pretorius as one of the persons of interest in the brutal murder of Marius Van der Merwe, also known as Witness D.
Witness D was killed in cold blood last year outside his Brakpan home, following chilling testimony that implicated Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officials.
He told the Commission that suspended EMPD officer Julius Mkhwanazi allegedly ordered a cover-up of a murder, instructing officers to “dump the body in a dam or mine shaft.”
The witness said he was the one who transported the body and abandoned it at a dam in Nigel, fearing for his own safety.
Pretorius’ name also came up during Witness D’s testimony before the Commission.
Police had seized Pretorius’ cellphones and firearms as part of their investigation before he died by suicide on Sunday.
Pretorius died on Sunday, a few days after surviving an attempted hit at his Boksburg home, during which his bakkie was left with 16 bullet holes.
He was reportedly having a heated argument with his wife before he pointed the gun at himself in a garage.
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