KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Hawks Colonel Deena Govender has failed to give the Madlanga Commission a clear explanation of up to R2.3 million in payments in his bank account.
These payments were received around the time of a deadly 2023 police operation in Durban.
The commission also heard that the money – about R3million cash – was deposited into his account between August 22 and December 23.
Govender testified on Monday that R1.5 million was a loan from FNB, while the remaining funds came from several sources.
But his explanations were challenged during questioning by evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson SC and criticised by commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
“What you are saying is nonsensical,” Madlanga said. Chaskalson questioned Govender about a series of 2023 bank transactions and challenged him over conflicting explanations about where the money came from. Govender initially said Josh Chellin, whom he described as a “paternal figure”, had given him financial assistance in the form of a loan.
He later said his brother had paid him about R350,000 to buy out his share of their mother’s house.
Chaskalson pointed out that this differed from Govender’s official statement, which had identified Chellin as the source of the money.
The commission also heard about more than R300,000 in cash payments Govender received from S. Paardothman.
Govender said Paardothman often went to a casino and had large amounts of cash, explaining why the payments were made in cash rather than electronically.
He also admitted taking R298,000 in cash to his accountant, Cassey Shamal, and asking Shamal to arrange for another client to pay him through an electronic transfer.
Chaskalson said the arrangement had the “hallmark of money laundering”.
Govender previously stated in an affidavit that he had kept a spreadsheet documenting the sources of the money, including transaction dates and account numbers.
However, during his testimony, he said he could not independently remember the source of some transfers.
His evidence follows testimony from two KwaZulu-Natal witnesses who alleged that Govender was paid more than R2.5 million to kill Bevan Loftus.
The commission also heard that Govender made about 37 transactions in one day, many within a period of just over an hour.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
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