The Madlanga Commission heard sharply contrasting testimony on Thursday about the background of Bevan Loftus, who was killed in a KwaZulu‑Natal police task team shooting in April 2023 that also left four others dead.
Retired captain describes Loftus as 'notorious'
Retired SAPS captain Ashley Houston told the commission he had previously encountered Loftus on two occasions and considered him a notorious figure. Houston said he had identified Loftus among the casualties at the scene of the April 2023 operation and recognised another man, Ryan Santos, whom he said he knew from social media.
"Bevan was sitting with the Hollywood gang, and the Hollywood gang is led by a person, I don't want to mention his name, but he is a fugitive at the moment; he was sentenced, but he is somewhere," Houston told the inquiry.
Houston said Loftus had been seen associating with members of the so‑called Hollywood gang, which he described as dangerous and involved in a violent feud with rival groups.
Father rejects allegations
Loftus's father, Gregory Loftus, who also gave evidence on Thursday, rejected claims that his son was engaged in drug dealing or killings. He told the commission that his son's income came from his towing and taxi businesses and denied the allegations against him.
"There are allegations that Bevan was involved in drugs and killing people, I deny that. As far as I know, he lived from income received from his towing and taxi business," Gregory said.
Gregory acknowledged that his son had grown up around individuals who later entered criminal activity but argued that association did not make Bevan a criminal.
Conflicting accounts at an inquiry into a fatal police operation
The divergent statements form part of the commission's wider examination of the circumstances of the April 2023 shooting involving a KwaZulu‑Natal police task team. The operation resulted in the deaths of Loftus and four others; the commission is scrutinising how the incident unfolded and the conduct of policing units involved.
The testimony adds to a growing record of disputed versions of events presented before the commission. On the preceding day, investigators from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and other agencies had been giving evidence about aspects of the operation.
- Ashley Houston — former SAPS captain, said he had seen Loftus with gang members and described Loftus as notorious.
- Gregory Loftus — father of the deceased, denied his son’s involvement in drug dealing or killings and said he earned a living through towing and taxi businesses.
- The commission continues to hear testimony from police oversight and investigative bodies about the April 2023 operation.
| Witness | Principal claim |
|---|---|
| Ashley Houston | Identified Loftus at the scene; said Loftus associated with the Hollywood gang and was notorious |
| Gregory Loftus | Denied any involvement by his son in drugs or killings; described him as a businessman |
The differing narratives raised by Houston and Gregory underscore the difficulty faced by the commission in reconciling witness recollections, social media identification and family testimony with investigatory evidence. The inquiry is tasked with creating an authoritative record of the events and determining whether policing complied with law and procedure.
Commission hearings like this often weigh eyewitness evidence against forensic material and investigative reports. While family members may provide background and character evidence, former or serving police personnel can offer operational or situational observations—each carries different evidentiary weight.
The commission's work is likely to remain in the spotlight because the April 2023 incident involved multiple fatalities and allegations of organised criminal involvement. Any findings that relate to police conduct, oversight failures or links between suspects and criminal groups could have implications for SAPS operations, oversight institutions and prosecutions that might follow.
Proceedings at the Madlanga Commission will continue as investigators and witnesses present further evidence to clarify the context and specifics of the fatal operation.
