On 12 August 2026 (Day 157), the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry shifted its focus from the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) to KwaZulu-Natal. The commission heard explosive testimony from Len Barnabas John, Deputy Director for Investigations at the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) in KZN, about alleged extrajudicial killings carried out by specialised SAPS task teams.
This is one of the most serious sets of allegations yet presented to the commission. For the full background and complete timeline of the Madlanga Commission, see our main pillar page:
The Core of Len John’s Testimony
John told the commission that between 1 April 2023 and 31 May 2026, IPID investigated more than 300 cases involving KZN police task teams. Of these, 77 cases resulted in the deaths of 149 people.
He was blunt about the nature of many of these operations:
“They go out to kill the person; that is why we indicate extrajudicial.”
- In numerous incidents, far more people were killed than firearms recovered. One example cited involved six people shot dead with only two firearms found.
- Many of those killed had no clear link to the crimes (cash-in-transit robberies, drug trafficking or taxi-related crime) that the task teams claimed to be investigating.
- Suspects and occupants of properties were often all killed, leaving no civilian witnesses.
- Task teams frequently acted on unverified Crime Intelligence information and sometimes could not even identify the deceased.
John identified three specialised units operating in KwaZulu-Natal:
- A Cash-in-Transit (CIT) robbery task team led by Lieutenant-Colonel Deenadayalan (Deena) Govender
- A drug-syndicate task team under Colonel Mbongeni Samuel Khalishwayo
- A taxi-industry crime task team involving Captain Pedro Rodrigues
Particular attention was paid to Lieutenant-Colonel Govender. John told the commission that Govender’s official take-home salary was under R26 000 per month, yet he allegedly received more than R2.5 million from a tow-truck company owner between August 2022 and December 2023, and more than R2.7 million linked to the killing of alleged drug figure Bevan Loftus.
Links to Organised Crime and the Tow-Truck Industry
A recurring theme in the testimony was the alleged entanglement between certain police members, the tow-truck industry, and drug networks. John suggested that some officers assisted specific tow-truck operators (who were themselves linked to the drug trade) and that this relationship exposed the task teams to organised crime influence.
One of the cases highlighted was the April 2023 shooting in which Bevan Loftus and four others were killed. John said the dockets contained little evidence linking the deceased to the crimes the task team claimed to be investigating.
Why This Testimony Matters
The Madlanga Commission was established to investigate the infiltration of criminal syndicates into the criminal justice system and political interference in policing. Allegations that specialised police units in KZN have been operating as de facto hit squads strike at the heart of that mandate.
If substantiated, these claims would represent a profound breakdown in the rule of law and raise serious questions about command and control within the KwaZulu-Natal SAPS.
It is important to note that all allegations remain untested. The individuals named are presumed innocent unless and until findings are made by the commission or a court of law.
What Happens Next?
The commission is expected to continue hearing evidence on the KZN task teams in the coming days. Further witnesses, including possibly the officers named and additional IPID officials, are likely to be called.
We will continue to track every major development in this series. All articles link back to the main pillar page for full context.
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The Madlanga Commission continues to uncover deeply disturbing allegations about the state of policing in South Africa. As new testimony emerges about alleged hit squads and extrajudicial killings, the stakes for accountability and reform grow higher. For those who want to go beyond following the news and actively engage with the potential outcomes, visit polymarketsa.co.za where you can trade real-time markets related to the commission’s findings and political consequences.
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