Durban — An official from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) told the Madlanga commission of inquiry on Wednesday that a KwaZulu‑Natal police task team boss is suspected of carrying out a R2.5m hit linked to a violent dispute in the tow‑truck industry.
Allegations aired at commission
Len John, Ipid’s KwaZulu‑Natal deputy director for investigations, told the commission that task teams in the province have in some cases been used by drug dealers and gang members to eliminate rivals in turf wars. John said members of those teams often claim they acted in self‑defence after killings.
One explosive allegation heard at the commission was that a competitor in the tow‑truck business, identified as Clive Naicker, allegedly offered a task‑team commander R2.5m to have a rival killed. That rival, Bevan Loftus, was shot dead on 1 April 2023 along with four other people during an operation by the task team commanded by the officer named in the testimony.
“Bevan Loftus was informed that Clive Naicker had offered Lt‑Col Deena Govender R2.5m to kill him,” John said in his testimony, according to reporting to the commission.
John told the commission that a recording given to Ipid during its investigations captures a phone call in which Loftus confronted Naicker over the alleged hit.
Victims named in testimony
John said Loftus died with four others during the operation. The names given at the commission are:
- Bevan Loftus — killed 1 April 2023
- Ryan Santos
- Chase Fynn
- Michigan Hippolyte
- Sihle Zondi
| Subject | Detail |
|---|---|
| Amount allegedly offered | R2.5m |
| Date of the fatal operation | 1 April 2023 |
| Period of Ipid probe cited | April 2023 to 31 May 2026 |
Ipid inquiry and limits of the evidence
John told the commission that Ipid KwaZulu‑Natal is investigating this killing and other deaths that occurred between April 2023 and 31 May 2026 at the hands of three task teams investigating the illicit drug, cash‑in‑transit and taxi industries. He said the directorate had obtained the recording of Loftus’s conversation with Naicker.
The testimony, as presented to the commission, included claims that task teams have become entangled in criminal turf disputes and that killings are quickly portrayed as lawful uses of force. John said officers frequently rely on pleas of self‑defence and that in some cases dockets are closed once a suspect is killed and linked to a case without further investigation.
Named commander yet to respond
Lt‑Gen Deena Govender, named in the testimony as the commander of the task team linked to the operation, has not yet testified before the Madlanga commission and has not had an opportunity in that forum to respond to the allegations, the commission was told.
The matter remains under investigation by Ipid in KwaZulu‑Natal. The commission is expected to continue hearing evidence that could shed light on the conduct of police task teams and wider allegations that some operations have been co‑opted for criminal ends.
Local impact and what to watch next
The allegations feed into long‑standing public concerns about the independence of police operations and the accountability of specialised task teams in high‑risk provinces such as KwaZulu‑Natal. For families of victims and communities affected by violent turf disputes, the commission’s findings could determine whether criminal or disciplinary charges follow.
- Ipid continues to investigate deaths involving task teams between April 2023 and 31 May 2026.
- Commission hearings will provide further opportunity for the named commander to respond.
- Any evidence of corruption, bribery or collusion could be referred for criminal investigation.
The Madlanga commission is a public forum that seeks to probe policing practices and systemic issues. As hearings proceed in Pretoria, KwaZulu‑Natal families and advocacy groups are likely to follow closely for clarity on whether police units have operated outside the law and who will be held accountable.
Reporting from the hearing indicates the allegations are serious and may have consequences both for individual officers and for trust in police operations across the province. Ipid’s ongoing probe will determine whether the claims can be substantiated and whether further criminal charges should be pursued.
