‘Rogue KZN Cops Kill and Collude with Tow Truck Traffickers’ — Watchdog Director
Ipid says more than 300 shootings were investigated as officers faced claims of unlawful killings and ties to tow-truck firms and drug syndicates.
- On Wednesday, Len Barnabas John, deputy director for investigations in KZN for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate , testified before the Madlanga Commission, alleging specialized police task teams may be deliberately killing suspects.
- Between April 1, 2023, and May 31, 2026, IPID investigated over 300 extra-judicial killing cases, with 77 operations resulting in 149 deaths under KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's command.
- John testified that officers frequently delay IPID notifications to potentially manipulate crime scenes, while specialized officers allegedly maintain "free rein" in criminal activities linked to tow-truck businesses used for drug trafficking.
- Despite investigating 77 cases, IPID has secured no police convictions. John questioned docket validity, asking: "How does the task team link those unknown people in the cash-in-transit? There is no linkage there."
- The Madlanga Commission continues examining these allegations, assessing whether Mkhwanazi can explain the task teams' formation and operations as no officer has yet been held accountable for the reported 149 fatalities.
10 Articles
10 Articles
‘Rogue KZN cops kill and collude with tow truck traffickers’ — watchdog director
Chilling allegations about how corrupt police officers have sided with tow-trucking counterparts involved in turf wars and the illicit drug trade have emerged at the Madlanga Commission. A police watchdog boss also alleged at the inquiry that officers meant to crack down on cash-in-transit criminals carry out extrajudicial killings, which he says surged in KwaZulu-Natal a few years ago.
Durban gang kingpin killing: IPID reveals R2.7m financial trail linked to Hawks police officer
IPID has told the Madlanga Commission that Hawks Colonel Deena Govender and his wife were linked to deposits and payments totalling about R2.7 million around the period of a Durban police operation that left five men dead. No link between the money and the killings has been established.
Tow Trucks Are Used To Transport Drugs: IPID Investigator Makes Explosive Allegation At Madlanga Commission
An explosive allegation about South Africa’s tow-truck industry has emerged at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, with an Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) investigator claiming that tow trucks are being used to transport drugs across the country. IPID Deputy Director for Investigations Len John made the allegations while testifying before the commission in Pretoria, where evidence is being heard about gangs in the greater Dur…
LIVESTREAM | Madlanga continues probe on KZN SAPS 'hit squads'
LIVESTREAM | Madlanga continues probe on KZN SAPS 'hit squads' Nokuthula Khanyile Thu, 08/13/2026 - 09:30 PRETORIA - The Madlanga Commission will continue probing alleged hit squads in KwaZulu-Natal.The police in the province are accused of extrajudicial killings, under the guise of a Task Team.It is alleged officers targeted cash-in-transit robbery suspects, taxi operators and drug syndicates.READ | 'They go out to kill' | IPID official makes e…
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