Man accused of killing Madlanga Commission witness due in court for formal bail bid

The man accused of killing a key witness at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry will return to the Brakpan Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning for a formal bail application.

Forty-one-year-old Matiphandile Sotheni was recently arrested for allegedly shooting Marius van der Merwe, who testified at the commission as Witness D.

Van der Merwe was killed outside his Brakpan home in December in full view of his wife and children.

His alleged shooter has since been identified as a former member of the police’s Special Task Force.

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With Sotheni facing a Schedule 6 offence, the burden rests on his legal team to demonstrate exceptional circumstances that would justify his release from custody.

However, the State and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have indicated that they will oppose bail, maintaining that he’s a very dangerous man.

Sotheni is a highly skilled precision shooter, trained by the Special Task Force to shoot targets from moving vehicles.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana previously stated that Sotheni is a danger to civilians.

“Investigations could lead us to other aspects because we still need to get his criminal profile to check if he has other cases.”