Gunfire in one of Johannesburg’s leafy suburbs has left a senior police figure fighting for his life, days before he was due to take the stand at a high-profile inquiry into alleged wrongdoing inside South Africa’s police service.
Suspended Deputy Head of Crime Intelligence Maj-Gen. Feroz Khan is in hospital after being shot in what police believe was a targeted attack in Houghton. According to preliminary reports, two gunmen travelling in a white Mercedes-Benz opened fire and then sped away, striking Khan in the lower body. He was rushed to Milpark Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
The shooting comes just days before Khan was set to appear before a public inquiry established to probe criminality in South Africa’s police force. Investigators have opened a case and brought in the Political Killings Task Team to bolster the probe, as questions swirl about whether the attack may be connected to his anticipated testimony involving allegations of corruption and illicit trade. Police, however, have warned against speculating about the motive while the investigation unfolds.
