Phone Found in Prison Catwalk | Johannesburg News

Investigators are digging deeper into the murder of Marius van der Merwe after uncovering a cellphone allegedly used by former elite officer Matipandile Sotheni — found in a catwalk, not his cell. The state wants more time to analyze phone records and link them to a suspect vehicle and deceased co-accused Wiandre Pretorius, while the defense pushes back, demanding swift justice and warning against endless delays. With Pretorius’ suicide and Eksteen’s involvement still under scrutiny, the case is set for a November 2026 hearing — though next year’s judicial term dates are still being finalized. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d3dff20138ef326b