Key facts
- Maj-Gen Feroz Khan, a senior South African police officer, survived an assassination attempt.
- Khan was shot on Sunday evening while driving home.
- He was scheduled to appear before a public inquiry into police criminality.
- Khan had previously been arrested for alleged illegal dealing in precious metals.
- Police are investigating the shooting but cautioned against premature speculation.
Maj-Gen Feroz Khan, a high-ranking official in South Africa's crime intelligence division, has survived an assassination attempt. The incident occurred on Sunday evening as Khan was driving home, and he was subsequently taken to the hospital for emergency surgery.
The shooting comes just days before Khan was slated to testify at the Madlanga commission, a public inquiry established to investigate alleged criminality within the South African police force. The inquiry was initiated after Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged in July that organized crime groups had infiltrated the government.
Khan himself was arrested last month along with two others for alleged illegal dealing in and unlawful possession of precious metals. This stems from a 2021 incident where a businessman was found with unwrought gold at Johannesburg's OR Tambo international airport and claimed to be acting as an undercover agent linked to senior police officers. Prosecutors stated in May that no authorized undercover operation involving precious metals existed at the time, and that Khan and another officer allegedly instructed officers to release the businessman. Khan has not yet commented on these allegations and was released on bail.
South African police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe confirmed the investigation into the shooting, stating it was premature and irresponsible to speculate on motives or a link to Khan's anticipated appearance at the inquiry.