One of South Africa’s most senior police officers has survived an attempted assassination in Johannesburg, police say.
Suspended deputy crime intelligence boss Maj-Gen Feroz Khan was shot on Sunday evening as he was driving home and has since been rushed to hospital for emergency surgery, local media say.
The shooting comes just days before Khan was due to testify at a public inquiry set up to investigate criminality in South Africa’s police force.
Khan, alongside two other people, was arrested in May for alleged illegal gold dealing. He has not commented.
South African police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said in a statement released on Monday that police were investigating Khan’s shooting.
“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 inquiry, known as the Madlanga commission, was set up after senior police officer Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged last July that organised crime groups had infiltrated the government.
Khan was called to testify at the inquiry after his name came up several times, including in relation to a botched drug bust that took place in Johannesburg in 2021.
Local online publication Daily Maverick says Khan was expected to be questioned on his alleged ties to firebrand politician Julius Malema and political fixer Brown Mogotsi.
Khan has not commented.
