A man implicated in the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has survived an apparent assassination attempt after his vehicle was shot at least 16 times in Gauteng, sparking renewed concerns about the safety of witnesses involved in high-profile investigations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has since called for urgent enhancements to witness and whistleblower protection, warning that individuals testifying in sensitive cases should not be easily identifiable and must be afforded stronger security.
The shooting occurred on Thursday morning in Van Dyk Park, within the Dawnpark policing precinct. The target, Wiandre Pretorius, managed to escape the attack unharmed despite his vehicle sustaining extensive damage.
Ramaphosa Calls for Stronger Witness Protection
Speaking to the media following an engagement with South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter, President Ramaphosa expressed alarm at the growing threats faced by witnesses.
“Witnesses in high-profile cases should not be identifiable and must be better secured,” Ramaphosa said.
His remarks follow mounting fears over the safety of individuals linked to the Madlanga Commission, particularly after the recent killing of another whistleblower connected to the inquiry.
Police Confirm Attempted Murder Investigation
The alleged hit on Pretorius was confirmed by both Gauteng police and the Madlanga Commission on Thursday.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Major General Mthombeni said investigators are pursuing several leads and will rely on technological tools to identify those responsible.
“We are following up on the possible leads, and we will be using technology to help us with the investigation. The good thing is that the victim was able to escape the incident,” Mthombeni said.
He confirmed that Pretorius’s vehicle was deliberately targeted.
“From our observations, the car has 16 bullets lodged in it, and we are now investigating an attempted murder case following a shooting incident that occurred on Thursday morning in Van Dyk Park,” he added.
Authorities believe the attack may be linked to efforts to intimidate or derail ongoing investigations by the Madlanga Commission and a Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee probing allegations of political interference within the police.
Links to Earlier Commission Violence
The latest shooting is not an isolated incident linked to the Commission.
Pretorius was previously implicated by another witness, Marius van der Merwe — also known as Witness D — who was fatally shot shortly after giving testimony.
Van der Merwe had accused Pretorius of involvement in the alleged torture and murder of Emmanuel Mbense, a case that has drawn intense public scrutiny.
Commission Expresses Alarm
Madlanga Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed awareness of the attempted hit, expressing deep concern for the safety of witnesses.
“Yes, we got the news about an hour ago, and it had not happened too long before that,” Michaels said, underscoring the risks faced by individuals cooperating with the inquiry.
AfriForum Weighs In
AfriForum spokesperson Barry Bateman emphasised the seriousness of Pretorius’s alleged role, disputing suggestions that he was merely referenced in testimony.
“Allow me to clarify something about Wiandre Pretorius. He was not just ‘mentioned’ at the Madlanga Commission; confessed criminal, torturer, and body dumper Marius van der Merwe directly accused Pretorius of being involved in the torture and murder of Emmanuel Mbense,” Bateman stated on X.
Growing Fears of Intimidation
The shooting has intensified fears that witnesses and alleged suspects linked to the Madlanga Commission are being systematically targeted, raising urgent questions about the adequacy of current witness protection measures.
Investigations into the attempted murder are ongoing.
