WATCH | Father tells Madlanga commission KZN police ‘covered up’ his son’s killing

The father of an alleged drug dealer who was killed by KwaZulu-Natal police has vehemently denied his late son was a murderer and involved in drugs.

Gregory Loftus, 61, took to the witness box at the Madlanga commission of inquiry on Thursday to testify about events surroundings the shooting of his son, Bevan Loftus, by a KwaZulu-Natal police task team led by Col Deena Govender in April 2023.

Police had alleged at the time Bevan was a person of interest in cases including theft of a motor vehicle, attempted murder and murder.

“There are allegations 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. He did not live a flamboyant life. He lived modestly,” Loftus said.

“I would have had some idea if Bevan was involved in drugs or killing people. I vehemently dispute those allegations”.

He said the narrative about Bevan and his friends being involved in criminal activities was a cover-up by police to justify hunting and killing him.

On Wednesday, the commission heard testimony from Len John, Independent Police Investigative Directorate KwaZulu-Natal deputy director for investigations, who said a day before Bevan was killed by police, his father had applied for a high court interdict against Govender and police to prevent them “eliminating” Bevan.

Loftus alleged a competitor in the tow truck business, Clive Naicker, had promised to pay Govender R2.5m to kill Bevan.

John also told the commission there was no evidence linking Bevan to cases in which the task team alleged he was implicated.

The commission is investigating allegations that criminal syndicates have infiltrated the criminal justice system.

Proceedings continue.

Sowetan