By Johnathan Paoli
The bail application of former SAPS Special Task Force member Matipandile Sotheni, who is accused of murdering Madlanga Commission whistle-blower Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe, has been rolled over to Thursday for the defence to complete its arguments.
Appearing at the Brakpan Regional Court on Monday, Sotheni faces 16 charges, including premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, three counts of attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, failure to safeguard ammunition and firearm-related offences, as well as theft of SAPS ammunition.
Van der Merwe, who testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry under the pseudonym “Witness D”, was shot dead outside his Brenthurst home in Brakpan in December, shortly after giving evidence about alleged corruption linked to the City of Ekurhuleni and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, regarding the murder of Emmanuel Mbense.
During proceedings, the State formally read the extensive charge sheet into the
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