IPID links R2.7m financial trail to Hawks officer after Durban killing, IOL reports

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) testimony has linked a R2.7 million financial trail to a Hawks police officer in connection with a 2023 Durban police operation that left five men dead, according to IOL.

What IPID presented at the Madlanga Commission

According to IOL, IPID deputy director in KwaZulu-Natal Len John made the financial revelations during his testimony at the Madlanga Commission.

According to IOL, bank records showed R2,053,650 in cash deposits into accounts belonging to Colonel Deena Govender and his wife between 29 August 2022 and 18 December 2023.

Property payments and home-loan transfer

According to IOL, additional cash payments were made towards the couple’s purchase of a property in Isibaya valued at about R2.35 million. Those payments included R179,800 paid to the conveyancing attorneys on 15 May 2023 and a further R200,000 on 19 May 2023.

According to IOL, a transfer of R298,462 was made into Govender’s home-loan account on 26 April 2023.

According to IOL, the identified cash payments totalled R2,433,450, and with the home-loan transfer included the amount rose to R2,731,912 (reported as R2.7 million).

Remuneration and context

According to IOL, Len John said Govender’s monthly take-home SAPS remuneration at the time was less than R26,000.

According to IOL, the financial evidence was presented alongside details of the April 2023 police operation in Durban that left five men dead: Bevan Loftus, Ryan Santos, Chase Fynn, Michigan Hippolyte and Sihle Zondi. IPID’s investigation has raised questions about both the circumstances of the operation and the finances linked to Govender, IOL reported.

Allegations raised before the operation

According to IOL, on 31 March 2022 Bevan Loftus’s father, Gregory Loftus, approached the High Court seeking to prevent Govender and SAPS from killing his son and alleged that Clive Naicker had promised to pay Govender R2.5 million to kill Bevan Loftus. IOL noted that this allegation has not been proven.

Where the matter stands

According to IOL, the commission must now determine whether the police account of the shooting is supported by the evidence and whether the financial transactions involving Govender have any connection to the operation. No final findings have been made, and the inquiry continues.