JOHANNESBURG - Former Special Task Force Member Mathipandile Sotheni has been denied bail in the case linked to the murder of Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D.
He faces 16 charges, including the premeditated murder of Van der Merwe, a key whistleblower who testified at the Madlanga Commission.
Sotheni appeared at the Brakpan Magistrate's Court on Monday, where the court denied his bid for bail, ruling that he was a flight risk.
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The court found that releasing Sotheni could put the case at risk and may lead to witness intimidation.
The matter has been postponed to 30 July.
Welcoming the court's decision, Van der Merwe's sister Natasha said: "It's definitely a victory but an emotional victory. We will we all be celebrating this but it comes with the emotions of why did they take my brother away? Why did they have to kill him in that way?"