Brakpan: National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has announced that the police have identified three persons of interest in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Marius Van Der Merwe. “We are closing in on these suspects as our investigations reach a very advanced and sensitive stage,” General Masemola stated.
According to South African Government News Agency, the announcement came during a media briefing following Masemola’s visit to the Van der Merwe family in Brakpan, Ekurhuleni. In connection with Van Der Merwe’s murder, police are also investigating a murder case in Duduza and an attempted murder involving Van Der Merwe in September 2025. During the attempted murder, Van Der Merwe had reported being followed by two white males in a Mahindra Bakkie.
The police are actively searching for the murder weapon used in the crime. A vehicle believed to have been involved in the crimes, a white Chevrolet bakkie, was found abandoned in Alexandra township, Johannesburg, fitting the description of the vehicle sought by investigators.
A preliminary police investigation revealed that the vehicle was abandoned on Saturday morning by two men, just hours after Van Der Merwe was shot and killed on Friday evening. “Our crime scene experts and vehicle crime investigation unit were at the scene in Alexandra where the car was found. It was discovered on a gravel dead-end road among shacks and has been taken to our forensic laboratory for further analysis,” Masemola explained.
Marius Van Der Merwe, a member of the security industry and former official of the Ekhurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, was shot multiple times in front of his family outside their Brakpan home. He had previously testified as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission.
Prior to visiting the Van der Merwe family, Commissioner Masemola visited the scene of a mass shooting in Saulsville, west of Pretoria. The investigation into this incident has resulted in 12 counts of murder and 13 counts of attempted murder being registered. “We have charged the owner of the room, one of the injured currently in hospital, for operating a tavern without a valid liquor license,” Masemola noted.
In the Saulsville shooting, police confirmed that 11 victims suffered fatal injuries, including a three-year-old and a 12-year-old child. The latest victim succumbed to injuries while being treated at Kalafong hospital.
The Commissioner assured that detectives and uniformed police are tirelessly working to apprehend the three suspects still at large, expressing confidence that a breakthrough in the case will be achieved soon.