A retired police captain, Ashley Houston, has sharply contradicted the father of slain alleged drug kingpin Bevan Loftus, describing the deceased as “notorious” and placing him among feared criminal figures in KwaZulu-Natal.
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission on Thursday, Houston said Bevan had previously been seen associating with members of a dangerous gang, challenging his father Gregory Loftus’s insistence that his son was a legitimate businessman with no involvement in crime.
Gregory, who also testified on Thursday, rejected allegations that Bevan was involved in drug dealing or killings.
He said his son earned his living through his towing and taxi businesses.
“There are allegations that Bevan was involved in drugs and killing people, I deny that. As far as I know, he lived from income received from his towing and taxi business,” Gregory said.
He acknowledged that his son had grown up alongside some people who later became involved in crime, but maintained that this did not make Bevan a criminal.
Houston, however, told the commission that his previous encounters with Loftus left a different impression.
Houston was among the responders who attended the scene after a KwaZulu-Natal police task team shooting in April 2023 that killed Bevan and four others.
At the scene, he identified Bevan and Ryan Santos, whom he said he knew through social media.
Houston said he recognised Loftus because he had encountered him twice before and described him as “notorious”.
He recalled seeing Bevan with members of the Hollywood gang, which he described as dangerous and feared.
“Bevan was sitting with the Hollywood gang, and the Hollywood gang is led by a person, I don’t want to mention his name, but he is a fugitive at the moment; he was sentenced, but he is somewhere,” Houston testified.
He said the gang was involved in a violent conflict with another group.
“They were taking each other out… It was east and west side,” he said.
The conflicting testimony comes as the commission examines the circumstances surrounding the 2023 shooting.
On Wednesday, IPID KZN deputy director Len John told the inquiry that Hawks officer Colonel Deena Govender was allegedly paid about R2.7 million to kill Bevan.
Gregory has alleged that tow-truck business competitor Clive Naicker ordered the hit.
John also said there was little evidence linking Bevan to cases in which the task team claimed he was implicated. Govender has yet to respond to the allegations.
Houston has concluded his testimony.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
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