Len John, IPID Deputy Director for Investigations in KwaZulu-Natal, testified about SAPS 'hit squads’ targeting people linked to cash-in-transit robberies, taxi operators, and drug syndicates.
Len John, Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Deputy Director for Investigations in KwaZulu-Natal, has alleged that SAPS 'hit squads', operating under the guise of task teams, have been killing suspects linked to cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies, taxi operators and drug syndicates.
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry yesterday, John highlighted that rogue police involvement in hit squads has been a long-standing problem and is increasing.
He told the commission that between 1 April 2023 and 31 May 2026, IPID investigated more than 300 cases. Of those, 77 involved the deaths of 149 people at the hands of police task teams.He added that all cases under IPID investigation were still awaiting court determination.
John told the commission that in the majority of cases, only a few firearms were recovered at the scenes relative to the number of deceased, and many of those killed had no connection to the cash-in-transit robberies alleged by the police.
