The Madlanga Commission has postponed the in-camera testimony of former deputy crime intelligence head Feroz Khan after a reported assassination of his associate on the eve of his appearance. Khan was scheduled to testify behind closed doors, but due to the death of a family member resulting from a shooting incident on the R21 in Gauteng, he is not in a position to testify today. The commission has therefore postponed Khan's testimony to a date yet to be determined.
Preggy Padayachee, Khan's close associate and uncle-in-law, was killed during a drive-by shooting on the R21 highway in a suspected hit on Monday evening. The commission had granted Khan's application to testify in-camera after he cited the sensitivity of his testimony and the potential to impact investigations. Although the South African Police Service has not linked Padayachee's murder to Khan's testimony, this marks a second reported hit hours before Khan's day at the Madlanga Commission.
This is not the first time Khan has been targeted. On Sunday, 28 June, Khan was ambushed by two men in a white vehicle at around 11 pm while returning to his Houghton residence. He was due to appear before the Madlanga Commission the next morning. Khan reportedly sustained gunshot wounds to his lower body and was rushed to Milpark Hospital for emergency surgery. Khan's attempted assassination occurred while he was on R20 000 bail granted by the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court.
Khan was dismissed from the South African Police Service on 2 September after he failed to attend his disciplinary hearing. He also faces criminal charges related to a 2021 precious mines case. Khan was expected to respond to several allegations against him, including the 2021 Aeroton drug bust and reported links to Imogen Mashazi, Mohamed Sayed, Julius Malema, and Andrea Johnson.
Khan's hospitalization in June became a long-standing bone of contention at the Madlanga Commission, resulting in several postponements of his testimony. He was later subjected to an independent medical examiner who cleared him for in-camera appearance. Padayachee previously acted as the public family spokesperson when Khan survived the shooting, stating that whoever did it must pay.
According to the South African Police Service, preliminary investigations show that Padayachee died during a vehicle crash while evading the assailants. A driver traveling in a Fiat reportedly experienced a breakdown and contacted a friend for assistance. As they were attending to the vehicle, shots were fired at them, and the driver attempted to evade the gunfire but lost control of the vehicle, which collided with a jersey barrier.
The Madlanga Commission's final report is due on 25 January 2027. Khan's testimony has been postponed to a date yet to be determined. The commission confirmed that Khan appeared before it remotely and in-camera on Tuesday morning but postponed his testimony due to the death of his associate.
Key points
- Feroz Khan's associate Preggy Padayachee was assassinated in a drive-by shooting on the R21 highway.
- Khan's testimony at the Madlanga Commission has been postponed due to the assassination of his associate.
- This is the second reported hit on Khan hours before his scheduled testimony at the Madlanga Commission.
