A retired South African Police Service (SAPS) captain on Thursday described slain suspect Bevan Loftus as “notorious”, saying he had previously seen Loftus associating with members of a feared gang in KwaZulu‑Natal. The testimony at the Madlanga Commission directly contradicted evidence given the same day by Loftus’s father, who insisted his son was a legitimate businessman.
Conflicting accounts before the commission
Former Captain Ashley Houston told the commission he had encountered Loftus on two prior occasions and recognised him at the scene of an April 2023 police task team shooting that left Loftus and four others dead. Houston said he also knew another person killed in the incident, Ryan Santos, 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 testified.
Houston said the group he identified as the Hollywood gang was involved in a violent conflict with a rival faction, referring to attacks taking place between east and west sides. He characterised the gang as dangerous and said Loftus had been seen in their company.
Earlier in the day, Gregory Loftus, the father of the deceased, rejected allegations that his son was involved in drug dealing or killings. He told the commission that Bevan supported himself through towing and taxi businesses and that while his son had grown up alongside people who later became involved in crime, that did not make him a criminal.
“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 Loftus said.
Context of the inquiry
The testimony formed part of the commission’s probe into the circumstances surrounding the April 2023 operation by a KwaZulu‑Natal police task team. Houston was among the responders who attended the scene after the shooting. The matter has drawn scrutiny because of the number of people killed and the involvement of specialised police units.
The differing accounts illustrate the challenges commissions face when eyewitness recollections, familial testimony and allegations about organised‑crime links diverge. The commission must weigh conflicting evidence as it examines whether law enforcement actions were appropriate and whether other parties were implicated in serious criminal activity.
- Key witnesses on Thursday included retired Captain Ashley Houston and Gregory Loftus, the father of one of the deceased.
- Main dispute concerns whether Bevan Loftus was a criminal associated with the Hollywood gang, as alleged by Houston, or a legitimate businessman, as his father contends.
- Incident under review is the April 2023 KwaZulu‑Natal police task team shooting that killed Loftus and four others.
Commission hearings will continue to assemble testimony from former and serving officers, independent investigators and others with knowledge of the operation. The inquiry’s findings may have implications for police accountability and for how suspected links between individuals and organised groups are assessed in future operations.
| Witness | Position | Main claim |
|---|---|---|
| Ashley Houston | Retired SAPS captain | Identified Bevan Loftus at the scene; said Loftus associated with the Hollywood gang and was "notorious" |
| Gregory Loftus | Father of deceased | Denied allegations of drug dealing or killings; said son earned income from towing and taxi businesses |
The commission has yet to make findings on these assertions. As always in criminal and disciplinary matters, allegations made in testimony remain allegations until they are proven in a court of law or upheld by the commission.
