The Shocking Story of Marius Vander Murwi: A Whistleblower’s Final Days and the Battle for Justice
Imagine knowing the exact day you’re going to die.

Imagine telling a journalist, your sister, anyone who would listen that you have only days left to live.

Then, imagine being right.

This is the tragic and chilling story of Marius Vander Murwi, a man who South Africa knew only as Witness D.

A man who saw his own death coming and couldn’t stop it.

What you’re about to hear is not a fictional account or a conspiracy theory.

It’s a real-life case that exposes the dangerous world of corruption, witness intimidation, and the violent power structures operating within South Africa.

Marius Vander Murwi was a man who dared to speak the truth about the police force and their involvement in illegal mining, a decision that ultimately cost him his life.

The Murder that Changed Everything
On the evening of December 5th, 2023, Marius, his wife Leanne, and their children had just finished dinner at a local restaurant.

It seemed like an ordinary evening, one that should have been unremarkable.

However, for Marius, the fear had been building for weeks.

He had been targeted and hunted, his life under constant threat after his attempts to expose police corruption and illegal mining activities.

Just hours before his death, Marius sent a voice note to a journalist, saying he only had a few days left to live and that those responsible were coming for him.

He knew too much and had shared it with the wrong people.

As he arrived home that evening, he noticed a vehicle following him, a white car that slowed down as they approached the driveway.

Marius, sensing something was wrong, drew his firearm.

The first bullet hit his leg, and the second one struck his head, ending his life in front of his family.

The assailants vanished into the night, leaving behind a nation demanding answers.

The Final Plea: Marius Vander Murwi’s Voice Note
Marius knew his life was in danger, and in his final moments, he made one last desperate attempt to expose the truth.

He sent a voice note to journalist Yusf Branji, revealing that he had intelligence about the key players behind illegal mining operations in South Africa.

Marius knew his death was imminent but still tried to get the truth out.

In his voice note, he said, “I know I only have a few days to live. They’re going to shoot me. They’re going to kill me.”
Before Marius could go public and reveal all the information he had gathered, it was too late.

The killers had already come for him.

This wasn’t just another case of violence in South Africa’s criminal underworld.

This was a calculated move to silence someone who knew too much about the inner workings of the police and corrupt officials involved in illegal activities.

Marius’s Role as Witness D

To understand why Marius became a target, we need to look at his role as Witness D in the South African legal system.

Marius was a businessman and the owner of a private security firm.

For years, he had been investigating the world of illegal mining, a network involving Zama Zama miners who operated without the necessary permits and with the protection of corrupt police officials.

What started as an attempt to protect South Africa’s resources from criminal exploitation quickly led Marius into the dark world of police corruption.

He found himself facing off against powerful criminal networks that had infiltrated the very institutions meant to protect South Africa’s citizens.

The Police Corruption at the Heart of the Investigation
Marius’s discovery of police corruption tied to illegal mining operations was the catalyst for his eventual murdєr.

In one of the most shocking testimonies, Marius revealed how police officers were involved in the illegal mining industry, protecting the Zama Zamas, turning a blind eye to criminal activities, and profiting from the illicit operations.

In April 2022, Marius was called in to assist with an operation related to a warehouse robbery in Brackan, where he confronted a suspect who was connected to illegal activities.

What Marius and his colleagues discovered during this operation was disturbing: 500,000 rands in cash, police case dockets, forensic bags, and live ammunition—signs of far deeper corruption than a simple robbery.

This incident marked a turning point for Marius, as he realized that the corruption was rooted at the highest levels of law enforcement.

The Murder of Emanuel Bence: The Darkest Turn
Marius’s involvement in the case took a sinister turn when he witnessed the brutal torture and death of a suspect named Emanuel Bence.

While Marius was outside, the police officers were using a technique called “body tubing” to extract a confession from Bence.

The man was suffocated to death with a plastic bag, and when Marius returned, he was told that the suspect would never speak again.

The police officers involved in the murdєr were later identified as officers from the Akur Hilini Metro Police Department, including one of the most powerful figures in the department, Chief Superintendent Julius Muanazi.

What happened next was even more chilling.

Muanazi ordered the body to be disposed of, saying it must be thrown into a mineshaft or dumped into a dam.

Marius, fearing for his life, complied with the order.

He helped dispose of the body, and it was later found in Duza Dam in Nigel.

The case was buried, and the family of Emanuel Bence was left with no answers, only the grief of losing a loved one under mysterious and suspicious circumstances.

A Chilling Pattern of Silence and Elimination
Marius’s testimony at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into police corruption revealed the disturbing truth behind these deaths.

Marius testified that there was a systematic cover-up within the police force, with high-ranking officials involved in eliminating those who dared to speak out.

The same pattern of violence and intimidation was used to silence Marius and anyone who threatened to expose the truth.

Witness D’s death wasn’t the first or the last.

Three young police officers, Bapello Senyatso, Cha Linda, and Kim Gets Bay, disappeared in April 2025.

Their bodies were later found in the Henups River in Centurion.

The official story was that they had been involved in an accident, but Marius’s testimony and subsequent investigations suggest otherwise.

Their deaths appear to be part of a much larger cover-up designed to protect those in power.

The Role of Minister Mchunu and Political Interference
The case became even more complicated when evidence emerged linking Minister of Police, Shadrach Sabia, to the illegal mining operations.

Text messages were discovered between the minister and Brown Magazi, a businessman with ties to criminal syndicates, discussing the arrest of Zama Zama kingpins.

What’s even more troubling is the revelation that Minister Mchunu was personally involved in these discussions, bypassing law enforcement protocols and communicating directly with a civilian businessman about criminal operations.

The fact that the police minister was involved in this way raises serious questions about the extent of corruption within the highest levels of South Africa’s law enforcement.

Was Mchunu protecting illegal mining activities? Was he involved in a broader scheme to shield powerful criminals from justice? The answers to these questions could reveal a deeply embedded system of corruption that stretches from the police force all the way to the top echelons of government.

The Conspiracy Unravels
Marius’s death, along with the deaths of several officers and the subsequent revelation of political interference, exposed a dangerous network of corruption within South Africa’s police force.

The case is no longer just about one man’s tragic death.

It’s about the survival of a corrupt system that has operated with impunity for too long.

Forensic investigations, financial tracking, and digital forensics have all revealed a web of connections between police officers, politicians, and criminal organizations.

These findings suggest that the police force itself may have been complicit in criminal activities, protecting illegal syndicates and suppressing any investigations that threatened to expose the truth.

The Public’s Reaction: A Call for Justice and Reform
The public response to Marius’s death and the subsequent revelations has been intense.

South Africans are demanding answers, and they’re calling for comprehensive reform of the police force and the justice system.

The Zondo Commission has become a focal point for this outrage, with civil society organizations and opposition parties pushing for greater transparency and accountability.

Marius’s family, including his sister Natasha, has fought tirelessly for justice.

The pain of losing a loved one in such a violent and senseless way is compounded by the frustration of knowing that the system meant to protect citizens is itself broken.

As Marius’s sister said, “I don’t know if I believe him, but I know I was never told the whole truth.”
These words sum up the frustration felt by many in South Africa, where trust in the justice system has been eroded by corruption and cover-ups.

The Future of South Africa’s Justice System
The outcome of this case will set a precedent for how South Africa handles corruption within its police force.

It will determine whether the country is capable of holding its most powerful figures accountable, or whether political and financial influence will continue to protect those who are complicit in illegal activities.

The investigation into the deaths of Marius Vander Murwi and the three police officers continues, and the public is demanding answers.

Will the truth be revealed? Will justice be served, or will powerful individuals continue to evade accountability?