The South African Police Service (SAPS) has revealed that Wiandre Pretorius, who died by suicide at a Brakpan filling station, was a person of interest in the murder of Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe, known as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Van der Merwe, who testified at the Madlanga commission of inquiry, was gunned down outside his Brakpan home in December. He had implicated Pretorius during his testimony at the commission.

Police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, revealed that police had previously taken Pretorius into custody for questioning regarding the fatal shooting after the police seized his cell phone and firearms as part of their investigative efforts.

“He was the first individual of interest taken in for questioning by police right after Witness D was murdered,” Mathe explained, adding that law enforcement is currently piecing together evidence to facilitate impending arrests in the van der Merwe case. In addition to his connection to the Van der Merwe murder, Pretorius was among 12 persons of interest identified in a separate homicide investigation concerning Emmanuel Mbense.

Mbense was murdered in April 2022, leading to a disturbing discovery when his body was found at Duduza Dam in Nigel, with personal belongings still in his pocket. Of the original 12 suspects, eight remain alive; while three, including Van der Merwe, have been murdered in what investigators describe as assassination-style attacks.

“Are we dealing with a syndicate that is eliminating each other in terms of their involvement in the murder of Emmanuel Mbense? That is an aspect we are looking at,” Mathe said.

 The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is expected to provide more clarity on the identities of the remaining persons of interest. Police have already initiated suspensions for two serving members in connection with the Mbense case, following the national commissioner’s approval.

This comes as the police indicated that they have since launched an inquest into the death of a man believed to be Pretorius, a 41-year-old reportedly linked to police informants in Ekurhuleni. His death follows a horrifying incident earlier in the week, where he claimed to have survived an attempted assassination.

On Thursday, Pretorius’s life took a perilous turn when assailants targeted him at his residence, unleashing a barrage of 16 bullets on his vehicle. The police promptly opened an attempted murder case following this alarming attack. However, reports indicate that the pressure of such life-threatening circumstances may have culminated in his untimely death.

IOL has reported that on Sunday morning, employees at an Astron Energy filling station in Brakpan were seen cleaning the scene where Pretorius reportedly ended his life. Witnesses described a surreal atmosphere as members of the public strolled by while police investigators and forensic experts meticulously examined the area. The site, demarcated with red cones, was cleansed of any evidence of the tragedy, though a pile of sand initially concealed the bloodstains.

According to reports from IOL, CCTV footage from the filling station corroborates the tragic sequence of events, showing Pretorius taking his own life with a 9mm handgun. 

Mathe confirmed the opening of an inquest docket into the matter, stating: “Police confirm an inquest docket has been registered after a 41-year-old man allegedly shot and killed himself at a filling station in Brakpan on Saturday, 7 February 2025. All role players, including police detectives and forensic experts, attended the crime scene. This matter is under investigation.”

According to reports, the deceased was driving with his friend. He called his fiancée to come to the filling station, and when an argument ensued, he allegedly turned the gun on himself. 

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

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