Ntshavheni defends witness protection after Witness D's murder: 'He declined the offer'

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has defended the government’s witness protection program, stating it should not be questioned when whistleblowers choose to decline the offer of protection.

The safety of whistleblowers has been in the spotlight this week following the murder of Marius van der Merwe, a witness at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

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Van der Merwe, who testified last month under the alias “Witness D,” was killed at his home in Brakpan last Friday—in front of his wife and children.

He had made serious allegations before the Commission, claiming that suspended EMPD officer Julius Mkhwanazi allegedly forced him to dispose of a body.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet media briefing today, Minister Ntshavheni emphasised that the government takes the safety of witnesses seriously.

"The Department of Justice, which is responsible for witness protection, had offered witness protection services to Witness D and he declined. So if witnesses decline offers, why do we criticise the witness protection services? The witness protection service will never be perfect but it’s a work of continuous improvement."

She urged that the police must be given space to probe the motive behind Witness D’s murder.

"We are making a lot of assumptions. Police are still investigating. So we do not know whether Witness D was killed because of the evidence he provided to the Madlanga Commission."