One of South Africa’s most senior police officers has survived an apparent assassination attempt after being shot while driving home in Johannesburg on Sunday evening.
Suspended Deputy Head of Crime Intelligence, Major General Feroz Khan, was rushed to hospital and underwent emergency surgery following the attack, according to local media reports.
The shooting comes just days before Khan was scheduled to testify before the Madlanga Commission, a public inquiry investigating allegations of corruption and organised crime within South Africa’s police service.
Police have launched an investigation into the attack but say it is too early to determine whether the shooting is connected to Khan’s planned appearance before the commission.
Khan’s name has surfaced several times during the inquiry, including over a failed drug operation in Johannesburg in 2021. Local reports also suggest he was expected to face questions regarding his alleged links to politician Julius Malema and political figure Brown Mogotsi.
The senior officer is also facing separate criminal charges after he and two others were arrested in May over allegations of illegal gold dealing. The case stems from a 2021 incident in which a businessman was found carrying nearly 76 grams of unwrought gold at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport.
Prosecutors allege Khan and another senior officer ordered the businessman’s release despite investigators finding that no authorised undercover operation involving precious metals existed at the time. Khan, who has not publicly commented on the allegations, was later released on bail while the case continues.
Authorities say investigations into both the shooting and the ongoing criminal case remain underway.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
