If he had only R10 left in his pocket and someone else needed it more, he would hand it over without a second thought. Those who knew him say that was exactly who Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe was — a man who helped wherever he could, even when he had little himself. Van der Merwe, 41, was shot dead outside his Brakpan home on Friday night.
It was, according to those close to him, the second attempt on his life. Police said he had just pulled up at home with his wife and children. Moments after stepping out of his vehicle and walking towards the gate, shots from an AK-47 automatic rifle were fired just before 8pm.
It is understood that his firearm, cellphone and wallet were all found on him. Gauteng’s acting provincial commissioner, Major-General Fred Kekana, said all available national and provincial forensic resources had been brought in. “No stone will be left unturned and no evidence that may assist the investigation is overlooked, uncollected or unanalysed,” he said.
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Van der Merwe owned a private security company, QRF Task Team, and recently testified under the alias “Witness D” before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. In November, he gave evidence about the 2022 murder of a robbery suspect in Brakpan — allegations that pointed to a suspended senior metro police officer.
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