A South African man named in a major police corruption probe has died after reportedly shooting himself at a petrol station. Police are now investigating the death of Wiandre Pretorius, 41, who had recently claimed he survived an assassination attempt.
Pretorius’s name was mentioned in the ongoing corruption inquiry, known as the Madlanga Commission, connected to the 2022 murder of witness Emmanuel Mbense, allegedly at the hands of police officers. Unfortunately, four of the twelve people identified as persons of interest in that murder are now deceased.
At 22:00 local time on Saturday, police received reports of a man taking his own life at a petrol station in Brakpan, east of Johannesburg, where officers found Pretorius’s body next to a firearm. The police are currently examining CCTV footage to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident, particularly as there were reported disputes involving Pretorius prior to his death.
The Madlanga Commission was initiated by President Cyril Ramaphosa following allegations that organized crime groups have penetrated governmental structures. Witness accounts at the Commission have linked various deaths to police actions, fuelling speculation about a potential cover-up.
With Pretorius's death, only eight out of the original twelve individuals of interest remain alive in connection with Mbense's murder, raising questions of a wider criminal syndicate eliminating witnesses or related parties.
Further investigations are underway, and police spokesperson, Brig Athlenda Mathe, stated that 'arrests are imminent' following the inquiries by the independent police watchdog agency.
Pretorius’s name was mentioned in the ongoing corruption inquiry, known as the Madlanga Commission, connected to the 2022 murder of witness Emmanuel Mbense, allegedly at the hands of police officers. Unfortunately, four of the twelve people identified as persons of interest in that murder are now deceased.
At 22:00 local time on Saturday, police received reports of a man taking his own life at a petrol station in Brakpan, east of Johannesburg, where officers found Pretorius’s body next to a firearm. The police are currently examining CCTV footage to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident, particularly as there were reported disputes involving Pretorius prior to his death.
The Madlanga Commission was initiated by President Cyril Ramaphosa following allegations that organized crime groups have penetrated governmental structures. Witness accounts at the Commission have linked various deaths to police actions, fuelling speculation about a potential cover-up.
With Pretorius's death, only eight out of the original twelve individuals of interest remain alive in connection with Mbense's murder, raising questions of a wider criminal syndicate eliminating witnesses or related parties.
Further investigations are underway, and police spokesperson, Brig Athlenda Mathe, stated that 'arrests are imminent' following the inquiries by the independent police watchdog agency.
