IPID deputy says 149 dead, no convictions in 77 KZN Task Team cases

According to IOL, Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) deputy director in KwaZulu‑Natal, Len John, told the Madlanga Commission that 149 people died during 77 KZN SAPS Task Team operations and that no police officer has been convicted in those 77 cases.

Admission of no convictions

At the commission, John was asked about the status of the 77 cases and replied, “Nothing as yet commissioner,” when asked how many had been finalised with police found guilty. According to IOL, he said that despite those deaths, no convictions have been secured in the specified matters.

Scope of IPID investigations

According to IOL, John told commissioners that IPID investigated more than 300 cases between 1 April 2023 and 31 May 2026, and that the 77 cases in question were among those inquiries.

Allegations about Task Team operations

According to IOL, John said police frequently reported that suspects had fired first, but that IPID investigations had uncovered incidents where the evidence did not support that account.

According to IOL, John alleged that the Task Team often killed all suspects and occupants present during shootings, “leaving no witnesses to the operation other than the members of the Task Team itself.”

Timing and evidence concerns

According to IOL, John told the commission that many operations were planned between 11pm and 3am, when fewer witnesses were likely to be present. He also said that, in most incidents, fewer firearms were recovered than the number of people killed, raising questions about links between those killed and the crimes under investigation.

According to IOL, John said that although cash‑in‑transit dockets contained references to suspects’ names, there was no linkage between the people killed and the robbery dockets he had reviewed.

Use of force and referrals

According to IOL, John accused Task Team members of sometimes failing to properly investigate or arrest suspects before using lethal force, and he summarised that behaviour bluntly:

“They go out to kill.”

According to IOL, some of the matters John described have been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and he said crime‑scene reconstruction could be used to challenge police claims that deceased suspects had fired first.

Leadership and presence at scenes

According to IOL, John identified Lieutenant‑Colonel Deena Govender as the Task Team leader in the province and said provincial commissioner Lieutenant‑General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi was frequently present at shooting scenes and later commented publicly on incidents. John suggested Mkhwanazi might be able to clarify how the Task Team is formed and operates.

End of testimony

According to IOL, John has concluded his testimony at the Madlanga Commission. He also told commissioners that some cases had been referred for prosecution consideration.