MADLANGA COMMISSION: Khan’s medical excuses face independent scrutiny at Madlanga Commission

The Madlanga Commission has run out of patience with suspended Crime Intelligence officer Major General Feroz Khan’s repeated failure to appear before the inquiry, making any further postponement of his testimony conditional on an independent medical assessment to establish whether he is genuinely unable to testify.

Suspended Crime Intelligence officer Major General Feroz Khan was due to appear before the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, to answer a raft of allegations that have emerged during its hearings, but his testimony has repeatedly been delayed on medical grounds.

On Tuesday, the commission heard that he had been readmitted to a Johannesburg hospital over the weekend. His legal representative, Muhammed Vally, opposed the commission’s push for an independent medical assessment, arguing that subjecting Khan to another examination could worsen his condition.

Khan was injured in a shooting on 28 June 2026 in Johannesburg, days before he was expected to testify at the commission on 1 July.

After more than two hours of argument from evidence leader Adila Hassim SC and Vally, commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga ruled that Khan’s medical condition may be disclosed, but that details of his diagnosis, treatment and family circumstances must remain private.

Madlanga further ruled that Khan must appear before the inquiry on 28 September unless he voluntarily submits to an independent medical assessment and the medical specialist confirms that he is unable to testify. The chair drew on the approach adopted previously in the matter involving businessman Suliman Carrim, making clear that the commission would not forcibly subject Khan to a medical examination.

Khan’s medical battle with the commission is only the latest chapter in an inquiry in which his name has repeatedly surfaced.

His relationship with former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) head Andrea Johnson has come under intense scrutiny , including the disclosure of intimate messages exchanged between the pair.

Khan was also drawn into the commission’s examination of the R286-million cocaine consignment intercepted in Aeroton, Johannesburg, in 2021.

In May, Warrant Officer Steve Phakula gave contradictory evidence about the cocaine interception before revealing that stories had circulated within police circles alleging that the drugs belonged to none other than Khan.

Khan had previously faced internal disciplinary action over his presence at the cocaine interception, but was cleared .

In May 2026, Khan, Durban businessman Tariq Downes and Gauteng Hawks head Major General Ebrahim Kadwa were granted R20,000 bail each in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court after being arrested over charges including contraventions of the Precious Metals Act and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

The charges stem from an incident on 5 May 2021, when Downes was allegedly found at OR Tambo International Airport in possession of 75.9 grams of unwrought gold, valued at about R62,836.

On Monday, 31 August, Khan failed in his urgent bid to overturn a disciplinary process that recommended his dismissal from the police.