{
  "id": 782561,
  "title": "Former SAPS officer alleges police involvement in son's murder for R2.5 million contract",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/former-saps-officer-alleges-police-involvement-in-sons-murder-for-r2",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T15:54:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/capetimes/news/2026-08-13-former-saps-officer-alleges-police-involvement-in-sons-murder-for-r25-million-contract/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Gregory Loftus, father of slain Bevan Loftus, testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that his son was murdered by a South African Police Service (SAPS) 'hit squad.' Loftus alleged the police orchestrated the killing for a R2.5 million contract, allegedly arranged by a competitor in the tow truck industry. He claimed Bevan was targeted due to alleged involvement with a drug gang known as the Cartel. Loftus disputed the police's version that Bevan and his friends fired at officers before being killed, stating there was no shootout. He believed a task team led by Lieutenant-Colonel Deena Govender carried out the killings at a Morningside, Durban flat on April 1, 2023. Loftus received information about the hit on Bevan's life, with both him and his son receiving warnings that they would be targeted if Bevan could not be killed. Bevan was killed along with his friends Ryan Santos, Chase Fynn, Michigan Hippolyte, and Sihle Zondi on March 23, 2023. Loftus rejected former Police Minister Bheki Cele's statements, which characterized the group as causing havoc and linked Bevan to a list of withdrawn cases. Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Deputy Director for Investigations in KwaZulu-Natal, Len John, testified that the task team shot five suspects, collecting over R2 million in cash. Loftus's testimony contradicted retired SAPS officer Captain Ashley Houston's account, which described Bevan as a notorious individual involved with the Hollywood gang.",
  "summary": "Gregory Loftus, a former SAPS officer, claims his son was murdered by a police 'hit squad' in a conspiracy involving a rival in the tow trucking industry.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}