Colonel Deena Govender Gets Emotional at Madlanga Commission, Maintains He Didn’t Steal Any Money

• Lieutenant Colonel Deenadayalan 'Deena' Govender took the stand at the Madlanga Commission on 31 August 2026
• The KwaZulu-Natal Hawks member discussed why millions of rands were deposited in his and his wife's bank accounts
• Govender grew visibly emotional during testimony as he explained how the allegations were tarnishing his name and that of his family

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

GAUTENG - Lieutenant-Colonel Deenadayalan "Deena" Govender became visibly emotional at the Madlanga Commission on 31 August 2026, insisting he had not stolen any money.

The KwaZulu-Natal Hawks Tracing Team head pleaded with the Commissioners to consider the damage being done to his reputation following allegations that he was paid money to conduct a hit.

Govender, who is attached to the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Unit, made the appeal as evidence leaders presented a wide-ranging financial trail that has placed him at the centre of the commission's scrutiny.

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His testimony focused largely on his claims that he was pressured to implicate Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in wrongdoing, but then turned to allegations about his own conduct.

R2.73 million under the spotlight

Earlier testimony before the Commission showed that approximately R2.05 million in cash was deposited into accounts belonging to Govender and his wife, herself a SAPS member, between 29 August 2022 and 18 December 2023.

When additional cash payments were factored in, including roughly R380,000 paid to conveyancing attorneys and a R298,462 home-loan transfer linked to a R2.35 million property, the identified total rose to around R2.73 million.

Evidence leaders further noted that 37 cash deposits were recorded on a single day, 30 August 2022, totalling more than R300,000. They also pointed to inconsistencies in how certain payments were described, with one amount cited in one document as coming from Govender's brother and in another as a loan from a late 'paternal figure'.

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Allegations were made that the R2.5 million came from tow-truck businessman Clive Naicker to arrange the killing of rival Bevan Loftus. Loftus and four others died during an April 2023 police operation carried out by Govender's task team.

Govender gets emotional during testimony

During his testimony, Govender offered explanations for several of the deposits, attributing some, including the 37 single-day transactions, to his mother-in-law.

He said funds were distributed across accounts belonging to himself, his wife and their children because "we needed the money and we had to put it into the account." He also referenced a loan from a person he described as a paternal figure and said he would submit a supplementary affidavit providing fuller details.

He then ended the day by pleading with the Commissioners to understand that he would never steal money.

"I did not steal the money from anywhere. Commissioner, there's no link to anything. Now, I want to leave from here. How do I go face the public out there, Commissioner? I never stole the money. I have never taken the money from anyone, but my name is so tainted for whatever reason," he exclaimed.

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Colonel Govender admits he was hurt by Senzo Mchunu's denial

Briefly News reported that Colonel Govender discussed the denial by Senzo Mchunu regarding the allegations against him.

Colonel Govender previously claimed that the Minister of Police wanted him to implicate General Mkhwanazi.

The senior KwaZulu-Natal Hawks officer admitted that he was hurt by Mchunu's denial, but had evidence to support his claim.

Source: Briefly News