By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African Police Services (SAPS) confirmed an attempted hit on Wiandre Pretorius, who was implicated in testimony of slain Witness D at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Fullview understands the incident happened at 09:25am in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni.
Pretorius was implicated in evidence given by murdered whistleblower Marius van der Merwe, also known as Witness D, whose killing after appearing before the inquiry has heightened concerns around the safety of witnesses linked to the commission’s work.
Pretorius is under investigation along with several others in connection with the murder of a man in Brakpan in 2024.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said they are investigating an attempted murder case following the shooting.
“It is reported that the victim was about to drive into his residence when attacked by unknown suspects driving a white Toyota Vitz. They fired shots at him before driving away. The victim escaped unharmed, and the motive of the shooting is unknown at this stage. Investigations are underway.”
Nevhuhulwi said Pretorius is in a place of safety after his ordeal and no arrests have been made.
The commission spokesperson, Jeremy Michaels, said they were aware of the incident.
“I don’t want to talk too much about the details because it is not clear what happened, but I should say that Mr Pretorius at the moment is not in the commission’s sights,” he said.
The Madlanga Commission, a judicial inquiry chaired by a retired judge, was established to dig into criminality, political meddling, and corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system.
The inquiry’s findings could lead to major reforms, such as restructuring police units or prosecuting top officials.
In the end, Pretorius’s narrow escape serves as a stark reminder: exposing the truth comes with a cost, but it’s vital for healing a system riddled with betrayal.