Whistleblower murder suspect is former elite officer, South African police say

A former member of an elite police unit has been charged with the murder of a whistleblower who testified at a major police corruption inquiry in South Africa.

Matipandile Sotheni, 41, appeared in court accused of killing Marius van der Merwe in December last year.

Sotheni is accused of shooting dead Van der Merwe in full view of his family in a case that caused national outrage. He has not commented on the charges.

Van der Merwe, identified only as "Witness D" during his appearance at the inquiry, known as the Madlanga commission, had implicated police officials in the torture and murder of a robbery suspect in his testimony.

His testimony was seen as blowing the lid on the extent of police corruption at a local level in South Africa and led to the suspension of several of the officers he had named.

In addition to Van der Merwe, three of the 12 people implicated in the robbery suspect's killing have since died. Two were shot dead, while one killed himself, police say.

Sotheni was one of three suspects police had identified in Van der Merwe's murder.

He also faces charges of attempting to kill Van der Merwe's wife and children.

The case was postponed to 26 March for a formal bail application.