The rise and fall of Crime Intelligence boss Feroz Khan

From a R300 million cocaine bust to an alleged R10 million offer, an arrest, a shooting and questions over his wealth and connections. Major-General Feroz Khan has now been dismissed from SAPS, but his story is far from over.

Major-General Feroz Khan’ s career in the South African Police Service has come under increasing scrutiny, with allegations ranging from his conduct during a major cocaine bust to claims of political and business connections emerging before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Khan, who served as the deputy head of Crime Intelligence, was dismissed by the South African Police Service on Wednesday after he failed to appear before the senior officer handling his expedited disciplinary proceedings.

His dismissal, however, is not the end of the questions surrounding him.

Khan - the director of several businesses, including a car parts chain apparently worth R21 million, and the owner of several luxury properties and vehicles - is still expected to appear before the Madlanga Commission, where a series of witnesses have made allegations concerning his conduct, relationships and alleged interference in police and other State matters.

The allegations have not been tested in the commission because he has yet to give his evidence.

One of the earliest matters to place Khan under scrutiny was the seizure of about 715kg of cocaine at a Scania warehouse in Aeroton, Johannesburg , in 2021.

Evidence before the Madlanga Commission later centred on Khan’s alleged involvement in the operation and what happened after the cocaine was seized.

Warrant Officer Boy Steve Phakula told the commission that Khan asked who the drugs belonged to and that, after Phakula told him there were claims they belonged to Khan, the major-general laughed.

Other evidence alleged that Khan attempted to take control of the operation and later sought to take credit for the bust.

Chief Provincial Inspector Samuel Mashaba of the Gauteng Traffic Police also accused Khan of trying to take credit for the operation despite not having received a briefing from the team involved. These allegations remain untested.

Khan subsequently faced an internal disciplinary process linked to allegations arising from the Aeroton operation.

But that outcome later became part of the wider controversy surrounding Khan when witnesses before the Madlanga Commission raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the disciplinary process.

The commission heard allegations that information presented during the process was misleading. These are allegations and have not been established as findings against Khan.