Thobeka Ngema|Published
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has executed a search warrant at the premises of KwaZulu-Natal Hawks officer Lieutenant-Colonel Deenadayalan “Deena” Govender, following allegations aired at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping confirmed the search but gave no further details, saying the investigation was ongoing. Govender’s lawyer, Anand Nepaul, said the investigation was incomplete and confidential.
“I’m actually shocked and surprised that information about it has been leaked to the media because it was applied for and dealt with as part of an investigation.
“Investigations are incomplete. They’re normally confidential and privileged,” Nepaul said.
“So we’re quite shocked and surprised to see it in the media. But we are dealing with it. So just hold your breath, not for too long.”
Meanwhile, KZN Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo said the office was unaware of a search at this stage.
At the commission, when he faced questions about how R2.3 million in payments were deposited into his bank account, he struggled to give a clear answer. The commission heard that the money was deposited into his account between August 22 and December 23, around the time of a deadly 2023 police operation in Durban.
Govender testified that R1.5 million was a loan from FNB, while the remaining funds came from several sources.
However, his explanations were challenged during questioning by evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson SC and criticised by commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
Madlanga said what he was saying was nonsensical. Chaskalson questioned Govender about a series of 2023 bank transactions and challenged him over conflicting explanations about where the money came from.
Govender rejected allegations and maintained the operation was lawful, claiming the men were linked to drug-related crimes. He also said the payments were legitimate.
Testifying, IPID KZN deputy director Len John alleged that Govender was linked to a R2.7 million financial trail following Bevan Loftus’s death during a 2023 police operation in Durban.
The shooting, which occurred in April 2023 in Morningside, Durban, left five men dead: Bevan Loftus, Ryan Santos, Chase Fynn, Michigan Hippolyte and Sihle Zondi.
A police account revealed that a SAPS Task Team led by Govender located the flat following the arrest of a suspect linked to a Greenwood Park case. Upon entering, officers were allegedly fired upon by the five men, prompting the team to return fire, resulting in the deaths of all five individuals.
John said that some trucking operators were involved in drug trafficking, with trucks used to supply drugs across eThekwini.
He also testified that the dockets contain barely any evidence linking the deceased to any of the cases. However, there is considerable evidence to suggest that Govender had been commissioned to kill Bevan to eliminate him as competition in the truck and drug industries.
The commission also heard that cash payments and home loan transfers were made toward Govender and his wife’s property purchase, vastly exceeding Govender’s monthly SAPS take-home pay of less than R26 000.
Bevan’s father, Gregory Loftus, denied his son was involved in drugs or murder. He knew that his son’s income was from his towing and taxi business.
He said his family was harassed and intimidated by a police “hit squad” since 2022, before his son’s killing.
Loftus testified that in 2022, he and Bevan received information that there was a hit out on Bevan’s life for R2.5 million.
His evidence related to allegations that KZN SAPS members were involved in extrajudicial killings carried out by a specialised task team.
The commission also heard that task teams were allegedly responsible for killing suspects linked to cash-in-transit robberies, taxi violence, and drug syndicates.