Witness D's Murder Sparks National Fear: Are Whistleblowers Being Silenced in South Africa?

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The murder of Marius van der Merwe – who was Witness D at the Madlanga Commission – has ignited fears for the safety of whistleblowers in South Africa.

@joy_zelda Pamela Mabini was a whistle-blower at the Timothy Omotoso rape and human trafficking case. She was gunned down at her home at KwaZakhele. Marius van der Merwe, condolences.

@hodmudau In our country, whistle-blowers are killed. This has led South Africans to have apathy. Even when they see crime happening, they do not act or say anything, as long as it does not happen to them. That is why our crime stats are high.

@MasegoBMo You are so right we are scared to report crime because in this country criminals have more powers than police. Or the criminals are within the police services. They are members of drug cartels.

@francis_nkosi The only witnesses protected are those under the PKTF... being a witness in SA is an extreme sport. You just know you living in borrowed time. But we still celebrate those who speak out and pray their sacrifices is not in vain...

@jwareli90885 Such cases in Port Elizabeth/Nelson Mandela are never solved. Councillors were gunned down, but to date, no police progress has been made on all assassination cases. U ask yourself why there is no police progress or updates.

@Piet12374 Our government is doing nothing about the killing of whistle-blowers. Only the president will say he condemned the killing of whistle-blowers then its over.

@Custocentrix I can bet on my life she was gunned down by a fellow South African who was paid not more than R10 000. We can shout and blame the government but as a society if we do not re-engineer our mindset that respects money above all things we are doomed until eternity.

@Recon1_ZA The murder of a witness like Marius van der Merwe is an attempt to silence us all. They will achieve the exact opposite. Every South African murdered to defend corruption will only make us louder. WARNING: There’s some strong language ahead because my filters came off. So make sure the kiddies aren’t next to you. Spread this message far and wide. We’re gatvol of losing brave men to cowardly assassins who crawl in the shadows. It’s time to get loud and reject this Mickey Mouse legal system that’s supposed to defend us against violent criminals who don’t fear it. Your constitutional right to life is meant for you. Not them,

@AdvoBarryRoux A Nissan NP200 that tailed Free State constables Cebekhulu Linda, Keamogetswe Buys & Boipelo Senoge, later found in a Pretoria river, is the same vehicle driven by Witness D’s killer. Witness D, Marius ‘Vlam’ van der Merwe. Witness & the constables were investigating illegal mining.

@goolamv Absolutely heartbreaking news has emerged about Witness D, Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe, hours before his cold blooded murder in front of his wife he told @eNCA he was going to expose state officials in illegal mining. We are in terrifying times in South Africa.

@JenPeremore The mainstream media is publicising Marius van der Merwe’s death, but not his calls for help. Is their covering the story of his death just the media doing their job, or do they want to ensure South Africans get the message: De silent or you’ll die? The latter sounds more plausible.

@RiseAgainstEvil The cold-blooded murder of Marius van der Merwe isn’t just the assassination of one brave man; it’s a desperate, bloody attempt to gag every one of us who dares to speak out against this mafia state. Well, screw you and your bullets. You just guaranteed the exact opposite. Every witness you slaughter, every whistle-blower you butcher, and every patriot you gun down to protect your rotten empire of corruption only turns the volume up louder. You’ve lit a fire you’ll never be able to put out. We’re not shutting up. We’re doubling-down. And with every drop of blood you spill, ten thousand more voices join the chorus.

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