-Staff Writer | Fri, 5 Dec 2025
A key whistle-blower in the explosive Madlanga Commission of Inquiry known publicly only as Witness D has been shot dead in Brakpan, just weeks after delivering damning testimony exposing alleged murder cover-ups and corruption within the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD).
Police confirmed that the man was killed in Gauld Street, Brendhurst, Brakpan, on Friday. SAPS management and forensic teams were still on the scene at the time of publication.
Witness D, whose identity had been concealed for safety reasons, provided one of the most unsettling accounts heard by the Commission this year. His testimony part of which was delivered in camera detailed an alleged network of high-ranking EMPD officials and private security firms involved in criminal operations, cover-ups, and the abuse of police resources.
What Witness D told the Madlanga Commission
During his appearance in November, Witness D made several shocking claims, including:
Alleged murder cover-up: He testified that after a suspect was shot and killed during a 2022 operation in Brakpan, EMPD Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi arrived at the scene and instructed him to dispose of the body allegedly suggesting a mineshaft or a dam as options.
Fear and compliance: Witness D said he complied out of fear for his life, believing that disobeying orders could make him “the next victim.” He loaded the body onto his bakkie and, with other officers, dumped it in a dam in Nigel.
Destruction of evidence: He claimed he burned his clothes the following day to eliminate any evidence linking him to the corpse. He further alleged another officer, Vianre Pretorius, proposed contacting a Crime Intelligence boss “to fix” the situation.
Staged truck hijackings: He described what he called an “entire industry” of fake truck hijackings orchestrated by EMPD units to extort recovery fees. According to his testimony, private security companies were given official-looking “appointment letters” allegedly signed by Mkhwanazi to operate as illicit recovery agents.
Use of EMPD vehicles by civilians: Witness D claimed that private citizens were driving EMPD-branded vehicles fitted with blue lights, using authority letters supposedly issued by Mkhwanazi to carry out illegal operations.
Ignored reports to authorities: He said he reported the murder cover-up to both the Hawks and IPID, but alleged that no action was taken for a prolonged period. He described those involved as a “very dangerous group,” expressing deep fear for his safety.
His assassination is expected to raise urgent questions about witness protection, the safety of whistle-blowers, and the potential reach of the criminal networks he described.
This is a developing story.
News Junction (Gold Standard)