A senior South African police intelligence official has survived an apparent assassination attempt after gunmen opened fire on his vehicle in Johannesburg, days before he was scheduled to testify before a public inquiry into alleged criminality within the country’s police service.
Deputy Crime Intelligence boss Feroz Khan was shot on Sunday evening while driving home and was rushed to hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery, according to local media reports.
Police confirmed the incident on Monday, saying investigations are ongoing. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe urged the public to avoid speculating about the motive for the attack or linking it to Khan’s expected appearance before the Madlanga Commission, which is probing allegations of organised crime infiltration within South Africa’s law enforcement agencies.
The commission was established after senior police officer Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged last July that organised crime syndicates had penetrated key government institutions.
Khan is also facing separate legal troubles. In May, he and two others were arrested over the alleged unlawful possession of precious metals in connection with a 2021 incident at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport.
The case centres on a businessman found with 75.9 grams of unwrought gold, who claimed he was working as an undercover operative linked to senior police officials. However, investigators later concluded that no authorised undercover operation involving precious metals existed at the time.
Prosecutors further alleged that Khan and another senior officer instructed police personnel to release the businessman despite the circumstances surrounding the seizure.
Khan has yet to publicly comment on either the allegations against him or the shooting.
