Major General Feroz Khan, a former career intelligence officer and the suspended national deputy head of crime intelligence in South Africa, was critically injured after being shot twice in the stomach in Johannesburg on Sunday night. Khan had been scheduled to appear before the Madlanga Commission this week as a key witness in its ongoing inquiry into claims that South Africa’s criminal underworld has deeply infiltrated state institutions.
The commission, established by President Cyril Ramaphosa, is investigating allegations that organized crime has flourished under the African National Congress government, with accusations ranging from interference in major drug seizures to involvement in illicit tobacco trafficking. Khan himself has been implicated in controversies surrounding a R300 million (€14 million) cocaine seizure and questioned about his financial means, including ownership of multiple homes and luxury vehicles despite his official salary. He denies the charges, including recent accusations related to illegal precious metals dealings, which led to his suspension in May.
Police are treating the shooting as an attempted assassination, and two spent cartridges were recovered at the scene. A handwritten note found there reportedly named two senior police officers whom the note’s author suggested should be investigated. Unusually, Khan was traveling without security at the time of the attack.
Since the commission began public hearings in September, testimony from police officers, whistle-blowers, and officials has exposed a widespread network of corruption, contract killings, kidnappings, and other criminal activities involving state agents and organized crime figures. The inquiry was initiated after police minister Senzo Mchunu faced accusations of obstructing investigations into politically motivated killings. Mchunu, who denies wrongdoing, along with the national police chief and his deputy, have since been suspended or placed on leave pending ongoing investigations.
The commission’s proceedings have been marked by a series of disruptions, including the deaths, disappearances, and illnesses of various witnesses. In December, former police officer and witness Marius Van der Merwe was fatally shot outside his home. Another figure central to the investigation was admitted to a psychiatric hospital just days before he was to testify, citing severe panic attacks. A separate witness withdrew after collapsing during physical exercise. In a related development, former police minister Nathi Mthethwa, who had also been implicated in allegations uncovered by the inquiry, died in September last year after falling from a high-rise hotel in Paris in an incident French prosecutors classified as suicide.
South Africa continues to face one of the highest murder rates worldwide, with contract killings a persistent issue that rarely result in accountability. The Madlanga Commission is expected to deliver its final report later this year, providing a detailed assessment of the state’s entanglement with organized crime and recommendations for addressing the crisis.