South Africa fires deputy crime-intelligence chief
South Africa’s police service has fired Crime Intelligence deputy head Major-General Feroz Khan after he failed to appear for an expedited disciplinary process.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, SAPS (South African Police Service) said Khan was deemed dismissed in terms of the SAPS Discipline Regulations after failing to attend proceedings before the senior officer responsible for the disciplinary matter.
“The South African Police Service confirms the dismissal of Major General Feroz Khan from the Service,” the police said. SAPS reiterated its commitment to accountability and professional conduct, stressing that all members, regardless of rank, are subject to the same disciplinary framework.
“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,” the statement read.
The police added that, because the matter has been the subject of legal proceedings, it would continue to respect court processes and would only provide further information where legally permissible.
The dismissal comes a day after Khan suffered a significant setback in the Labour Court when his urgent application to halt the disciplinary process was struck off the roll.
Judge Connie Prinsloo found that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter and that Khan had failed to establish urgency. The ruling effectively cleared the way for SAPS to continue with the internal disciplinary proceedings.
Khan’s legal team had argued that the disciplinary hearing proceeded in his absence while he was receiving medical treatment following a shooting in Johannesburg in June. However, the court did not consider the merits of his case, focusing instead on jurisdiction and urgency.
Khan, who served as deputy national head of SAPS Crime Intelligence, has become one of the most prominent figures in South Africa’s ongoing policing crisis.
He has been repeatedly linked to allegations of political interference within SAPS and has been named during proceedings before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is investigating claims of corruption, criminal infiltration and political interference in law enforcement.
Khan remains under subpoena by the commission, although his appearance has been delayed because of medical concerns. Separately, Khan is facing criminal charges alongside Gauteng Hawks head Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa and businessman Tariq Downes.
The trio are accused of defeating the ends of justice and contravening the Precious Metals Act over allegations that they facilitated the release of a businessman found in possession of an unwrought gold bar in 2021. All three have denied wrongdoing and are out on bail pending the continuation of their criminal case.
