KZN Hawks officer Deenadayalan Govender must give parts of his Madlanga Commission evidence in public when he returns to the witness stand on Monday.
KwaZulu-Natal Hawks officer Lieutenant-Colonel Deenadayalan Govender has been ordered to give evidence in public when he returns to the Madlanga Commission on Monday morning.
The commission refused part of Govender’s application to have sections of his testimony heard behind closed doors. He is due to appear at 09:30 on 31 August.
Govender had asked the commission to hear evidence linked to parts of a Regulation 10(6) notice in camera. Chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga granted condonation for the late filing of the application but ruled that responses to two sections of the notice must be given in an open hearing.
Evidence connected to testimony previously given in camera by a witness identified as Witness P will remain closed. That evidence relates to a counter-intelligence operation involving organised drug groups in the Durban area, according to reports on the ruling.
Govender first appeared before the commission on 21 August. He heads the Hawks’ KwaZulu-Natal provincial tracing team and previously commanded a cash-in-transit task team in the province.
His name has featured in earlier evidence about police operations and alleged payments. Those claims remain allegations and have not been established as findings by the commission or a court.
Govender has denied allegations made against him. During his earlier appearance, he also made claims about attempts to influence his evidence. Those claims are also untested.
The commission is examining allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption in South Africa’s criminal justice system. Its proceedings have included testimony from police officials, investigators, politicians and private individuals.
Monday’s ruling means the public will be able to hear Govender’s responses to the specified sections of the commission notice. Other protected evidence will be dealt with separately in camera on Monday or on another date determined by the commission.
The Madlanga Commission has not made a final finding against Govender. Its hearings are an inquiry process and do not determine criminal guilt.
