The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) has issued a statement following the assassination of whistleblower Marius van der Merwe, expressing concern about the impact such incidents have on public trust, justice, and the country’s social fabric.

The statement, released on 10 December 2025 and signed by SACBC President Cardinal Stephen Brislin, describes the killing as part of a wider pattern in which whistleblowers face threats and, in several cases, fatal consequences for exposing wrongdoing.

Van der Merwe had recently testified before the Madlanga Commission. The SACBC notes that the targeting of witnesses creates an environment of intimidation that discourages those who seek to “speak truth to power,” stating that such acts function as “punishment of the most extreme type for those who have acted with integrity.”

The bishops add their voice to ongoing calls for legislation that strengthens the protection of whistleblowers and witnesses, emphasising the importance of their contribution at a time when the nation is addressing issues that have “long bedevilled and robbed our country at so many levels.”

The statement extends condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Van der Merwe and acknowledges others who have lost their lives in similar circumstances. “We wish them strength in this time of devastation and mourning. We shall keep them in prayer,” it reads.

The SACBC describes these assassinations as indicative of broader systemic challenges, noting that such acts point to a “culture of impunity” and efforts by some to conceal corruption, extortion, and public theft. The bishops call for continued commitment to counteracting these harms, stating: “We need, even at this late hour, to commit to dismantling this dysfunctional culture of corruption and the disregard for the common good.”

The statement highlights the moral and social implications of corruption, recalling that “every act of corruption is theft from the poor, and every courageous act of exposure is an act of restoring the integrity of this land.” It concludes with an appeal for accountability and public responsibility: “We cannot be silent in the face of such acts. Silence becomes complicity in such wicked behavior. We owe it to those who died in this field of struggle to speak out and do what is right.”