Matipandile Sotheni a former member of an elite police unit is charged with the murder of a whistleblower who testified at a major police corruption inquiry in South Africa (known as The Madlanga Commission Inquiry). Sotheni is accused of shooting dead the whistleblower, Marius van der Merwe in December last year in full view of his family. Van der Merwe, identified only as 'Witness D' during his appearance at the Madlanga Commission Inquiry, had implicated police officials in the torture and murder of a suspected robber in his testimony. Sotheni testifying as Witness D implicated police officials in the torture and murder of a suspected robber in his testimony. His testimony was seen as blowing the lid on the extent of police corruption at a local level in South Africa and led to the suspension of several of the officers he had named. The Madlanga commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa after a senior police officer alleged that organised crime groups had infiltrated the government. This led to the suspension of South Africa's Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who has denied having any links to criminal gangs. In addition to Van der Merwe, three of the 12 people implicated in the robbery suspect's killing have since died. Two were shot dead, while one killed himself, police say. The suspected robber has since been identified as Emmanuel Mbense, who died in April 2022 - a case which was shrouded in mystery until Van der Merwe's shocking testimony.