A senior South African police officer has survived an attempted assassination after being shot while driving home in Johannesburg, police have confirmed.
Suspended deputy crime intelligence boss Major-General Feroz Khan was attacked on Sunday evening and rushed to hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery, according to local media reports.
Authorities say the incident is now under active investigation, coming at a sensitive time as Khan was expected to testify before a public inquiry probing allegations of criminal infiltration within South Africa’s police service.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the shooting in a statement on Monday but cautioned against linking it to ongoing investigations.
“It is premature and irresponsible to speculate on any possible motive or to conclude that the incident is linked to his anticipated appearance before the [inquiry],” she said.
The attempted killing comes just days before Khan was due to appear before the Madlanga Commission, an inquiry established after allegations emerged that organised crime networks had penetrated parts of the police and government structures.
Khan’s name has surfaced multiple times in testimony and investigations, including in connection with a failed drug operation in Johannesburg in 2021.
He was also expected to face questioning over alleged links to political figures, including Julius Malema and political fixer Brown Mogotsi, according to local publication Daily Maverick.
Khan has not publicly commented on the allegations or the shooting.
In May, Khan, another senior police officer, and a businessman were arrested over allegations involving illegal dealings in precious metals. Prosecutors say the case stems from a 2021 incident in which 75.9 grams of unwrought gold were discovered at OR Tambo International Airport.
At the time, the businessman claimed he was acting under instruction from undercover police operatives. However, investigators later concluded that no authorised undercover operation existed, and prosecutors allege that Khan and another officer instructed police to release him.
Khan has since been released on bail while the case continues.
Police say investigations into the shooting are ongoing, with no arrests announced so far.
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