By Johnathan Paoli
An Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) KwaZulu-Natal deputy director, Len John, has told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that a police cash-in-transit (CIT) task team repeatedly followed a pattern in which alleged suspects were killed during operations instead of being arrested.
John said the Pinetown and Hibberdene cases raised serious concerns about the legitimacy of the shootings, with most incidents involving alleged CIT suspects linked to a task team led by Hawks Lieutenant-Colonel Deena Govender.
Testifying before the commission on Wednesday, John said IPID often found little evidence linking those killed to CIT robberies.
“In cases where the deceased are shot for involvement in CIT heists, there is often no meaningful evidence linking them to any such offences in the provision of cases, no rifles, explosives, explosive devices, banknotes or banknotes found on the scene of the shooting as would ordinarily be the case in a CIT operation seeking out suspects,” John said.
He said the task team typically claimed to have received intelligence about the whereabouts of people allegedly involved in CIT robberies, but that information was generally not verified against existing dockets or with detectives investigating the alleged crimes.
ALSO READ: Lamola targets 50% intra-SADC trade as SA takes over regional chairship
“The information received is generally not verified with reference to any other investigations, case dockets, or investigating officers/detectives in charge of such investigations,” John said.
He said operations were frequently conducted between 11 pm and 3am, with officers wearing civilian clothing, balaclavas, or face masks without police insignia.
“They then invade the premises of the alleged CIT suspects. They allege that they came under fire from the suspects and they returned fire in self-defence,” he said.
John said that in most of the shootings, all occupants were killed, leaving no independent witnesses.
IPID also frequently found no high-calibre rifles, explosives, or cash – items ordinarily associated with CIT operations.
Instead, officers often pointed out homemade firearms, pistols, or revolvers at the scenes.
Pinetown
The Pinetown case began with a police investigation into the murder of a taxi chairperson, in which two suspects had allegedly been identified.
John said one suspect was killed during an attempted arrest by another task team, while the second went into hiding and was later allegedly seen driving a Toyota Fortuner.
ALSO READ: Illicit miners could face R100m fines, 30 years in jail under proposed law
On 30 May 2024, Captain Pedro Rodrigues and his team allegedly followed the Fortuner after receiving information that it had left an estate.
The vehicle was stopped on the M13.
John said four people wearing balaclavas were seen in one vehicle, with three other vehicles following it.
The driver immediately called Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
While he was on the phone, police opened fire.
Fourteen rifle rounds were allegedly fired at the Fortuner, but the vehicle was armoured.
ALSO READ: KZN cops take ‘payment’ as tow trucks get free pass to move drugs, Madlanga hears
Mkhwanazi instructed the driver to proceed to Pavilion Shopping Centre, with the task team following.
At the shopping centre, the vehicle was inspected and photographed by the Local Criminal Record Centre before being towed to Pinetown police station.
The driver’s firearm was also seized.
John said the task team members left before being properly processed for allegedly discharging official firearms in an attempted murder case.
“They did not provide any explanation or justification for the shooting, nor did they provide firearm numbers or the number of rounds fired at the vehicle,” he said.
IPID subsequently established that two vehicles used in the operation had false registration plates and no official police markings.
Nine of the 10 officers were arrested in July 2024, followed by Rodrigues.
The criminal matter has been postponed to 20 August 2026, while disciplinary proceedings have also begun.
Hibberdene
In the Hibberdene case, Govender’s task team went to a holiday cottage at about 1am on 2 March 2024 to arrest an alleged CIT suspect.
Crime Intelligence allegedly told police that the man was planning CIT robberies in the Eastern Cape and had access to firearms and explosives.
John said officers entered after the suspect opened the door, but found nothing suspicious in the lounge.
The suspect later went into a bedroom with two officers.
Police alleged that he grabbed an R5 rifle and drew a firearm from beneath a pillow.
One officer allegedly fired four shots, killing him.
However, IPID could not establish that the man was wanted for CIT offences.
John said the task-team commander failed to provide case numbers proving that the suspect was wanted for any crime, while no illegal firearms, explosives or other items associated with CIT robberies were found.
The suspect’s girlfriend, who allegedly witnessed the events, went into hiding after reportedly being threatened by task-team members.
John said her statement remained outstanding and that the case would then be referred to a senior prosecutor.
“There is a clear indication that the version by Task Team members are fabricated to cover up an unjustified shooting,” he said.
John said IPID had also not been presented with evidence showing that the man was involved in CIT crimes, while the task team had not explained how it located him in Hibberdene.
