WATCH | ‘My son was no drug dealer’: father tells Madlanga Commission

Gregory Loftus, the father of the late Bevan Loftus, has taken the Madlanga witness stand, where he denies his son was ever involved in the drug business or in killing people. 

Loftus told the commission on Thursday morning: “As far as I know, he lived from income received from his towing and taxi business”.

“I have been in the service; I would have had some idea if Bevan was involved in drugs or in the killing of other people. I vehemently dispute those allegations”.

He said the narrative that Bevan and his friends were involved in drugs was a cover-up by the police to justify hunting and ultimately killing him.

His testimony comes after IPID KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) deputy director Len John alleged on Wednesday that Hawks Colonel Deena Govender was linked to a R2.7 million financial trail following Bevan’s death during a 2023 police operation in Durban.

Advocate Mpilo Sikhakhane and Advocate Teboho Mosikili will lead his evidence.

Read IOL’s full reporting of the incident here.

The shooting that occurred in April 2023 left five men dead: Loftus, Ryan Santos, Chase Fynn, Michigan Hippolyte and Sihle Zondi.

According to the police account before the commission, a SAPS Task Team under Govender identified a flat after arresting a suspect in a Greenwood Park case.

When officers entered the flat, the five men allegedly opened fire. The Task Team returned fire, killing all five.

The inquiry is underway.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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