Madlanga Commission: KZN police task team may be caught up in taxi wars
Updated Aug. 12, 2026, 4:27 p.m. | By Anastasi Mokgobu A senior IPID investigator in KwaZulu-Natal says the police watchdog has probed allegations of task…
The Full Story
Updated Aug. 12, 2026, 4:27 p.m. | By Anastasi Mokgobu
A senior IPID investigator in KwaZulu-Natal says the police watchdog has probed allegations of task team members acting on tips from rival taxi bosses.
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has heard explosive claims that police investigators may have been drawn into taxi rivalries in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Len John, the KZN Deputy Director for Investigations at the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), testified before the inquiry in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Allegations of police involvement
John said that members of a KZN police task team investigating cash-in-transit robberies may have been used in taxi rivalries.
He said the police watchdog has investigated allegations of task team members acting on information from rival operators.
John explained that the task team's job is to focus on CIT-related cases. But in some instances, its members allegedly targeted people with no evidence tying them to these crimes.
He said hundreds of alleged criminals have died in police shootouts, adding that commanders often cannot prove those killed were connected to CIT robberies.
John also described it as suspicious that the police cannot explain how they tracked down many of the suspects, raising questions about whether rival taxi owners were feeding them information.
Official alleges tow-truck industry linked to drug trade
The IPID officer earlier detailed alleged links between the tow truck industry, the drug trade and police.
John testified on what he said were gangs operating in the greater Durban area and suspected police involvement.
He said the majority of tow trucks are being used to supply and transport drugs across the country.
John further alleged that police officers are involved in these operations.
"Commissioner, it's a known factor that certain police officers at station levels are linked with certain tow-truck businesses.
"You'll get police officers who will give jobs to certain tow-truck [operators] in order to get, you can call it, a payment from them.”
The commission on Wednesday shifted its focus to alleged hit squads operating in KwaZulu-Natal and consisting of members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) who allegedly commit extra-judicial killings.
The Madlanga Commission says 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.
Follow the ECR Newswatch WhatsApp channel here
We are also on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter)
Wearing the wrong bra size? Liza Clifford explains what women get wrong about bra fitting
Carol Ofori speaks to South African professional bra fitting expert and en…
'My roof flew away': 10 wild KZN excuses to miss work
KZN bosses reveal 10 of the wildest and funniest excuses employees have gi…