Call for Immediate Suspension of SAPS Crime Intelligence Official Feroz Khan

Johannesburg, South Africa. Tuesday, 17 March 2026 — Public Interest SA calls on National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola to act decisively and without delay by suspending the head of counter-intelligence within SAPS Crime Intelligence, Major General Feroz Khan, pending the outcome of ongoing investigations into serious allegations of misconduct.

Khan is alleged to have surreptitiously summoned MK Party parliamentarian Sibonelo Nomvalo to a private venue, where Nomvalo was compelled to engage with him via video call. During that exchange, Khan reportedly issued a thinly veiled warning, instructing Nomvalo to “stop suffocating” him. Such conduct, if proven, raises grave concerns about intimidation, abuse of authority, and the unlawful exertion of influence over elected public representatives.

These allegations do not exist in isolation. Khan further stands accused of fraternising with criminal elements and politically exposed figures, including EFF leader Julius Malema. This pattern of conduct strikes at the very heart of the integrity, independence, and public credibility of the South African Police Service.

Compounding these concerns, the National Commissioner himself confirmed before the ad hoc committee that a fresh investigation into Khan — linked to the multimillion-rand drug incident for which he was previously implicated but later cleared — has now been initiated. Notably, Khan had earlier been cleared in a process chaired by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The decision to reopen scrutiny into the same matter underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the possibility that prior processes may not have fully ventilated the issues at hand.

Under these circumstances, allowing Khan to remain in a position of significant operational authority within Crime Intelligence is untenable. It risks compromising the integrity of any investigation, undermining public confidence, and eroding internal discipline within SAPS.

Suspension is not a presumption of guilt; it is a necessary precaution to safeguard any investigation, protect institutional integrity, and affirm the principle that no individual — regardless of rank or influence — is above accountability.

Public Interest SA therefore calls on General Masemola to:

• Immediately suspend Feroz Khan pending the finalisation of all investigations;

• Ensure that the investigations are conducted swiftly, independently, transparently, and without interference; and

• Publicly account for the steps being taken to restore integrity within SAPS Crime Intelligence.

South Africa cannot afford a police service whose leadership is clouded by allegations of impropriety and compromised associations. Decisive action at this juncture will signal a commitment to ethical governance, accountability, and the rule of law.

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