Overview
- Police say Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe, the witness who detailed the alleged killing, was gunned down outside his Brakpan home, with a suspected getaway vehicle recovered in Alexandra and three persons of interest identified.
- IPID told The Citizen that its investigation into the alleged torture, killing and dumping of Emmanuel Mbense’s body is in its final stages.
- Van der Merwe’s Madlanga Commission testimony alleged EMPD officers and private security tortured Mbense using “tubing” and that Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi ordered the body’s disposal, with Mkhwanazi now suspended.
- Mbense’s family has enlisted AfriForum, and Gerrie Nel has written to IPID seeking an update and pressing for arrests while questioning investigative delays.
- Commissioners visited Van der Merwe’s family as witness safety drew scrutiny, and records show Mbense died on 15 April 2022 with his body found the next day in Duduza Dam with blunt force trauma listed on his death certificate.