From SAPS reservist to suspect then suicide: Wiandre Pretorius was questioned for Witness D murder
Police informant Wiandre Pretorius, who died by suicide at an Astron Energy filling station in Brakpan on Gauteng’s East Rand on Saturday night, was the first person of interest questioned by the South African Police Service following the brutal murder of Marius van der Merwe.
Van der Merwe, identified during proceedings as “Witness D”, had testified as a key witness before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where he detailed his role — and that of law enforcement officials and private security operatives — in the torture and murder of Emmanuel Mbense.
During his testimony last year, Van der Merwe alleged that Mbense was tortured before being killed, and claimed he was later instructed to dispose of Mbense’s body. His evidence helped Mbense’s family piece together what happened and shed light on aspects of the case that had remained unexplained for more than three years.
IOL previously reported that Van der Merwe was gunned down outside his home just weeks after testifying at the Madlanga Commission in November 2025, raising concerns about the safety of witnesses linked to the inquiry.
On Sunday, SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that Pretorius was taken in for questioning following Van der Merwe’s killing.
“In relation to Wiandre Pretorius, he was a person of interest in murder of Witness D. He was actually the first person of interest that we took in for questioning. We had seized his firearms as well as cellphones that are still in police custody or possession for further investigation. That particular investigation is still ongoing and it is at an advanced stage.
“We won’t comment further on that, save to say that Gauteng detectives are still on the ground, investigating that particular incident. So Wiandre Pretorius was one of two persons of interest right after Witness D was murdered, he was taken into questioning and certain items were seized.”
Mathe said police are also investigating the alleged hit which Pretorius survived last Thursday, when his vehicle was riddled with bullets.
“Ballistic experts took the necessary evidence and they are examining it. At a later stage we will provide feedback on how far that investigation is,” she said.
Earlier, IOL reported that the South African Police Service is investigating whether people linked to Mbense are being systematically targeted and killed.
Mbense, a 51-year-old father of five from Brakpan in Gauteng, was murdered on 15 April 2022. His body was found the following day, dumped in Duduza Dam near Nigel, with his car keys and driver’s licence still in his pocket. His death certificate listed blunt force trauma to the head as the cause of death.
After more than three years of pleading with authorities for answers, the family of Mbense, who was allegedly tortured and murdered by law enforcement and private security officers before being dumped in the dam, turned to AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit for justice.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL News