Durban — The father of slain tow‑truck operator Bevan Loftus told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that police harassment of his family began months before the operation in April 2023 that ended his son’s life and those of four other men.
December 2022 operation described as heavy‑handed
Gregory Loftus, a former police officer, gave commissioners a detailed account of encounters with members of what has been described at the commission as an alleged KwaZulu‑Natal police hit squad. He said the family’s concern about police conduct grew after a forceful operation on 13 December 2022, when between 20 and 30 police officers arrived at a property adjoining the Loftus family home.
Loftus said he recorded the operation on his cellphone and that officers told him they were seeking his son in relation to two murder cases. When he asked who had charged Bevan, Loftus said, the officers replied the information was private and would not be disclosed.
“I enquired as to who charged Bevan, but the police said it was private and they cannot divulge the information,”
He told the commission the police accused him of failing to co‑operate and of withholding information. Among the officers who attended that day, Loftus said, was Lieutenant Colonel Deena Govender, then attached to the Hawks.
Items found and subsequent charges
During the December operation, Loftus said firearms were recovered at the property and that items belonging to him — an old police bulletproof vest and handcuffs — were located in the garage. That discovery, he said, resulted in charges against him, including impersonating a police officer, obstructing the ends of justice and possessing state property.
Loftus disputed the allegations. He told the commission he did not live at the property searched and did not have keys or a remote control to access it. He characterised the police behaviour as increasingly intrusive in the months before the fatal April 2023 raid in Morningside.
Context: Madlanga Commission hearings
The testimony formed part of the commission’s broader inquiry into allegations of unlawful policing in KwaZulu‑Natal, including claims of so‑called hit squads operating within the provincial police. The commission has heard multiple accounts linking certain operations to members of the provincial police and, in some instances, to elite units.
The April 2023 operation in Morningside resulted in the deaths of Loftus and four other men. The commission is examining the conduct of police before, during and after that raid as part of its mandate to investigate possible abuses by law enforcement.
What Loftus told commissioners
- 13 December 2022: A large police operation at a property adjacent to the Loftus family home; Loftus recorded the operation.
- Police claim: Officers said they were searching for Bevan in connection with two murder cases but did not disclose who had charged him.
- Items found: Firearms and an old police vest and handcuffs belonging to Gregory Loftus were recovered.
- Charges against Gregory Loftus: Impersonating a police officer, obstructing the ends of justice, and possession of state property — all disputed by Loftus.
Questions for investigators and the public
Loftus’s statement raises questions about transparency in policing operations and the procedures followed when large‑scale searches are carried out in residential areas. The presence of a Hawks officer at the scene, as noted in testimony, will be relevant to the commission’s assessment of command and oversight in the case.
Commission proceedings are evidentiary and aim to establish facts around alleged unlawful killings and related conduct. They do not themselves determine criminal guilt, but findings may be referred to prosecutors or other oversight bodies for further action.
| Item | What Loftus said |
|---|---|
| Date of large operation | 13 December 2022 |
| Number of officers reported | Between 20 and 30 |
| Charges later faced by Gregory Loftus | Impersonation, obstructing justice, possession of state property |
| Fatal operation referenced | April 2023 raid in Morningside |
The commission continues to hear further testimony from witnesses connected to policing operations in KwaZulu‑Natal. As proceedings progress, affected families, investigators and oversight institutions will await its findings and any subsequent recommendations.
Practical note: The Madlanga Commission’s hearings are open to the public and media reporting; anyone seeking detailed records or transcripts should contact the commission secretariat for access and guidance.
