South Africa’s Sotheni faces 16 charges over Witness D murder
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on SABC News
Matipandile Sotheni, a former member of a South African police special unit, is due to appear again on sixteen charges linked to the murder of Marius van der Merwe, a witness known as Witness D. Prosecutors are to update the court on phone analysis and the investigation before a hearing scheduled for 2 November 2026, according to SABC News.
Matipandile Sotheni, a former member of the South African Police Service’s special unit, is due to appear before the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Monday 2 November to face 16 charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The prosecution relates to the death of Marius van der Merwe, a witness known as “Witness D” before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, reports SABC News.
Van der Merwe was killed in a drive-by shooting outside his home in Brakpan in December 2025. At the previous hearing, prosecutors said three phones had been found on a catwalk behind Sotheni’s cell during a search at the correctional facility. One of the devices was allegedly directly linked to him, and preliminary investigations suggest he may have communicated with someone outside the prison.
The prosecution is due to inform the court of the progress of the investigation, including the mapping of phone communications and analysis of the devices. It had requested additional time to complete these checks, according to SABC News.
