Police are investigating an attempted murder after a man linked to testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry survived a shooting incident in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, early on Thursday.
The shooting occurred in Van Dyk Park, within the Dawnpark policing precinct, on 5 February 2026. The victim, identified as Wiandre Pretorius, was not injured in the attack.
Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed the incident, saying a case of attempted murder had been opened.
“The police are investigating an attempted murder case following a shooting incident that occurred earlier this morning at Van Dyk Park in the Dawnpark policing precinct,” Nevhuhulwi said.
“It is reported that the victim was about to drive into his residence when he was attacked by unknown suspects driving a white Toyota Vits. 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.”
Sources said Pretorius was inside his bakkie when several shots were fired at him. The suspects fled the scene, and no arrests had been made by the time of publication.
Pretorius is a person who was mentioned during testimony at the Madlanga Commission, which is probing allegations of serious criminality involving law enforcement officers and organised crime networks in Gauteng.
He was implicated by a witness known as Witness D (Marius Marius Van De Merwe) in relation to the killing of Emmanuel Mbhense, whose body was later dumped in Germiston Lake. Witness D told the commission that the murder and disposal of the body were allegedly carried out under the direction of members of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department.
Witness D, whose real name was Marius van der Merwe, was gunned down outside his home in Ekurhuleni in December last year, several months after he testified before the commission.
Pretorius has been linked to the EMPD and is among several individuals under investigation in the Brakpan murder case that featured during the Madlanga Commission hearings. During his testimony, Witness D also implicated the suspended EMPD head, Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi.
The attempted hit comes amid renewed focus on the Mbhense murder case. On Wednesday, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) announced that it had concluded its investigation into the killing of Emmanuel Mbhense and referred the finalised docket to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision.
In a media statement issued on 4 February 2026, IPID said Mbhense was allegedly killed by members of the EMPD on 22 April 2022. It is alleged that his body was later dumped in a lake in Germiston.
IPID further said Mbhense had been implicated in a business robbery in Boksburg North in March 2022 and that his truck was allegedly used in that robbery, which led to an investigation by EMPD officers.
“The finalised investigation docket was referred to the DPP today for a decision,” IPID said.
The watchdog said it had kept the Mbhense family informed throughout the investigation and was in possession of correspondence from the family confirming they were satisfied with the feedback received from investigators. IPID said further action would be taken once feedback is received from the DPP.
During the Madlanga Commission proceedings, Witness D alleged that Mbhense’s body was disposed of in the Germiston lake at the instruction of Ekurhuleni metro police officers. The commission is investigating allegations of corruption, murder and abuse of power involving law enforcement officials and criminal networks.
AfriForum, acting on behalf of the Mbhense family, has been pursuing accountability in the case since Mbhense’s death nearly three years ago.
Police have not yet confirmed whether the attempted hit on Pretorius is directly linked to the matters raised at the Madlanga Commission or the IPID investigation. SAPS said investigations into the shooting are continuing and that more information will be communicated as it becomes available.
This is a developing story.
