Madlanga Commission turns to alleged KZN police hit squads
Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed that the alleged squads targeted suspects linked to cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies, taxi operators and drug syndicates, allegedly operating under the guise of a Task Team.
The Madlanga Commission is to focus on allegations of police hit squads operating in KwaZulu-Natal, according to a statement from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). Deputy Director for Investigations in KZN, Len John, has been called to testify at the commission's new phase of investigation. The inquiry is probing supposed extrajudicial killings by SAPS officers who allegedly operated beyond their legal boundaries, targeting criminal networks.
Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels disclosed that these alleged squads focused on suspects tied to cash-in-transit robberies, taxi operators, and drug syndicates, masquerading as a Task Team. The first witness in this line of inquiry is slated to appear during the resumption of proceedings at 9:30 a.m. This development comes amid KZN's history of politically motivated killings, including assassinations of political figures, violence among taxi drivers, and targeted murders.
The commission has previously examined allegations of corruption, criminal networks, and abuses of power within South African law enforcement. The latest phase is expected to delve deeper into the scope of such operations, identify those who authorized them, and determine if the killings were concealed under the guise of legitimate crime-fighting efforts.
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