The Madlanga Commission is set to investigate alleged police hit squads in KwaZulu-Natal, focusing on claims of extrajudicial killings by members of the South African Police Service.
This new phase of inquiry aims to uncover the extent of these operations and the connections to organised crime.
The commission will on Wednesday begin a new phase of its investigation into alleged organised killings involving police officers accused of operating outside the law while ostensibly targeting criminal networks.
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.
“These ‘hit squads’ allegedly target suspects in cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies, as well as taxi operators and drug syndicates under the guise of a Task Team,” Michaels said.
The first witness in the new line of inquiry is expected to appear when proceedings resume at 9.30am, potentially opening another chapter in the commission’s probe of serious organised crime and alleged police misconduct.
The allegations come against the backdrop of KZN’s long history of politically linked and organised killings, including assassinations of political figures, taxi violence and other targeted murders.
The province has repeatedly faced scrutiny over networks allegedly connecting criminal interests, political power and violence.
The commission has already heard evidence concerning alleged corruption, criminal networks, and abuses of authority within law enforcement structures.
The latest phase is expected to test how far such operations went, who authorised them and whether killings were concealed behind legitimate crime-fighting operations.
