‘How do I say goodbye?’: Widow’s viral TikTok sparks fury after slain witness’ murder
The devastated widow of murdered Madlanga Commission witness Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe has ignited national outrage after posting a viral TikTok tribute to her husband.
Image: Screenshot/TikTok
A viral TikTok video posted by the wife of slain Madlanga Commission witness Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe, who was known as Witness D, has drawn widespread sympathy and renewed anger following his killing in Brakpan on Friday night.
Van der Merwe, 41, a former Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officer, was shot dead in front of his family shortly after 8 p.m.
Police said the attackers were travelling in a white Nissan NP200 bakkie with a canopy, and confirmed that an AK-47 automatic rifle was used.
A manhunt is under way.
Van der Merwe had recently testified before the Madlanga Commission, which is investigating alleged corruption, the protection of criminal networks and political interference in the justice system.
The TikTok video, posted under the handle &_lea_gray_ollie by Leanne van der Merwe, has reached more than 500,000 views, earning over 38,000 likes and 3,000 comments.
The montage shows Van der Merwe with his children - eating ice cream, playing outdoors and spending time on what appears to be a farm.
In one clip, he is seen holding his son as they smile and touch a cow.
Other scenes show him playing with his son at a playground, while another one shows them alongside a road with their dog.
The caption reads: “How do I say goodbye? How do I carry on never seeing you again? 😭😭😭😭😭😭 I love you forever babe, always!!”
Social media users flooded the comments section with condolences and frustration over his death.
“Let’s stand up South Africa, this is too much now,” one user wrote.
“The justice system failed this man,” another commented.
“Your husband’s courage shook this nation… We honour him. We hold you,” a user added.
Van der Merwe testified last month that suspended EMDP chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi had allegedly instructed him to dispose of the body of a suspect suffocated in a bedroom by EMPD and SAPS officers, alongside an informant, Jaco Hanekom.
Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe was gunned down in Brakpan on Friday. He is believed to have been Witness D at the Madlanga Commission
Image: X
However, Mkhwanazi denied involvement, saying only that he arrived at the scene around 3 a.m after being told an operation had gone wrong.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi confirmed on Saturday that Van der Merwe had declined an offer of witness protection, saying he felt safe with his own private security company.
“He was offered protection, which he declined. He didn’t think he needed it, and he runs his own security company,” Kubayi said.
Following the killing, the Madlanga Commission, NATJOINTS, the SANDF and the State Security Agency met at the NATJOINTS Operations Centre in Pretoria and agreed to strengthen security for witnesses and officials.
The Department of Justice also attended the meeting.
“While extensive measures have been in place since the start of the commission, the meeting identified a need to heighten these measures,” a joint statement said.
Authorities have urged the public not to speculate while investigations continue.
They said the media would be briefed “in due course.”
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