Police service fires Feroz Khan after he loses in labour court

Embattled crime intelligence deputy head Maj-Gen Feroz Khan has been fired from the SA Police Service (SAPS), national police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said.

“Maj-Gen Khan was deemed dismissed in terms of Regulation 9(7)(b) of the SAPS Discipline Regulations, following his failure to appear before the designated senior officer responsible for dealing with the expeditious disciplinary process,” Mathe said in a media statement issued on Wednesday night.

His dismissal comes after he lost an urgent labour court application this week to stop the police from taking disciplinary steps against him in his absence for allegedly bringing the police into disrepute.

“SAPS reiterates its commitment to accountability, discipline and professional conduct within the organisation. No member, regardless of rank or position, is above the law or the applicable disciplinary framework,” Mathe said.

“As the matter has been the subject of legal proceedings, SAPS will continue to respect and abide by the decisions of the courts and provide further information where legally permissible.”

Khan’s urgent application was heard in the labour court on August 25-26, with judge Connie Prinsloo this week striking the application off the roll “for lack of jurisdiction, alternatively for lack of urgency”.

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), which represented Khan, was ordered to pay the costs. Popcru is an affiliate of labour federation Cosatu and represents about 160,000 police, prison, and traffic officers countrywide.

Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo has been approached for comment, which will be added once received.

Khan was arrested in May with Gauteng Hawks boss Ebrahim Kadwa and Durban businessman Tariq Downes. The trio face charges including defeating or obstructing the course of justice and contraventions of the Precious Metals Act.

They were released on R20,000 bail by the Kempton Park magistrate’s court after making their first appearance in June. The trio is accused of unlawfully acquiring and possessing precious metals without the required licence.

Khan is a central figure in the Madlanga commission of inquiry into allegations of corruption and criminality in the police. Evidence presented thus far, including information obtained from forensic examination of electronic devices seized from Khan, has placed him at the centre of allegations involving corruption, illicit networks and the manipulation of SAPS procurement processes.

He is accused of leaking confidential police information and assisting associates in securing lucrative SAPS procurement contracts.

Khan was the target of an alleged assassination shortly before he was due to appear before the commission. He was hospitalised after allegedly being ambushed by gunmen in Houghton.

Khan was discharged in mid-July and has since been recuperating at an undisclosed location.