“They wanted me to throw Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi under the bus”

A new witness, Lieutenant Colonel Deenadayalan “ Deena ” Govender , who is attached to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Unit, has allege d at the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria t hat he was approached and pressured to provide evidence implicating KwaZulu -Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi .

Govender is expected to respond to allegations that he led an alleged hit squad comprising members of a Cash-in-Transit task team.

MADLANGA COMMISSION | During his supplementary testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, Lieutenant-Colonel Deenadayalan Govender says he feels that he was unfairly used by IPID’s Len Barnabas John to discredit Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. pic.twitter.com/MtGL7wVORl — SABC News (@SABCNews) August 21, 2026 In his evidence, t he Hawks officer says he believes he was being used as a pawn and unfairly targeted by Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Deputy Director Len John.

He further alleged that he was approached by a Mavuso Ntandani , who he described as being close to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

“They told me that I should look to protect myself and not anyone else.

I should give evidence to the Commission on this basis that I act on the instruction of Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi for the police shootings that policemen and drug dealers and politicians wanted me to throw him under the bus.

I was threatened with being arrested for 172 cases and bail denied and being poisoned.” Madlanga Commission of Inquiry Day 164 | Friday, 21 August 2026