Deputy intelligence head Feroz Khan to appear before Madlanga Commission

This comes after Khan abandoned his court bid to stop investigators from accessing electronic devices seized from him.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of Monday’s proceedings, the commission said Khan had been summoned to appear on 1 July.

Khan initially approached the Gauteng High Court seeking to interdict the commission and the South African Police Service from dealing with data contained on the devices.

READ: Feroz Khan’s urgent court application struck off roll

In court papers, Khan argued that the devices contained sensitive Crime Intelligence information, including details of undercover operations and matters affecting national security.

He warned that unrestricted access could jeopardise investigations and place lives at risk.

Khan also sought an order compelling authorities to return the devices and permanently delete any data already downloaded from them.

The senior Crime Intelligence officer further challenged the legality of the warrantless search and seizure that led to the confiscation of the devices.

However, the commission says Khan has now abandoned both his urgent application against the commission and a separate attempt to have the proceedings heard behind closed doors.

Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said the commission had opposed the application and filed a detailed affidavit explaining why the information contained on the devices was relevant to its work.

"Yesterday, the Commission learnt that General Khan had secretly approached the court with an attempt to hold the proceedings in camera and to deny the public access to any of the affidavits of the Commission," Michaels said.

He said Khan withdrew both applications during a case management meeting before Acting Deputy Judge President Lebogang Modiba on Monday morning and that the withdrawals would be incorporated into a court order.

"As matters stand, Major-General Khan is set to appear before the Commission on the 1st of July 2026, and his testimony is key to the Commission's work, given the numerous serious allegations which have been made against him and other implicated SAPS officers, as well as other individuals," Michaels added.

Khan's appearance before the commission comes amid allegations that surfaced during testimony relating to the July 2021 Aeroton cocaine bust, where police seized more than 700 kilograms of cocaine valued at over R280 million.

Last week, SAPS National Intervention Unit member Warrant Officer Steve Phakula testified that rumours circulated within police ranks linking Khan to the drugs.

Phakula told the commission the claims were regarded as "corridor talk" and were never formally reported to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

During his evidence, Phakula acknowledged it was a mistake to offer to connect a police informer to Khan despite being aware of allegations linking the senior officer to drug trafficking.

The commission is investigating allegations of corruption, criminal infiltration of law enforcement agencies, and the handling of major drug seizures by members of the SAPS.

Separately, Khan, businessman Tariq Downes, and Gauteng Hawks head Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa were granted R20,000 bail each by the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court after being charged in connection with the alleged unlawful possession of unwrought gold.

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