Thirty-seven cash deposits in just over an hour.
That was the extraordinary banking activity involving KwaZulu-Natal Hawks Colonel Deena Govender that came under intense scrutiny at the Madlanga Commission on Monday.
The commission heard that Govender made about 37 separate transactions on the same day, with many taking place within a period of just over an hour. The deposits amounted to more than R300,000.
Govender was pressed to explain why such a large amount of cash was deposited through multiple ATM transactions instead of being paid into the account through a conventional banking transaction.
His evidence formed part of wider questioning over millions of rand that moved through accounts linked to him and his wife.
Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson SC challenged Govender over conflicting explanations for some of the money, while Commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga criticised parts of his evidence.
Govender maintained that the money came from legitimate sources, including family assistance and loans.
The commission has not found Govender guilty of money laundering. The unusual ATM transactions remain part of the evidence being examined by the inquiry.
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