The South African Police Service (SAPS) has been rocked by a massive scandal after two of its most senior generals were arrested in a dramatic sting operation. Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa, the head of the Hawks in Gauteng, and Major-General Firoz Khan, the head of Counter-Intelligence, are now behind bars.
The two men, who were supposed to be the country’s top crime fighters, are allegedly linked to illegal dealing in precious metals like gold and diamonds. Their arrest on Sunday morning has left many South Africans wondering if they can still trust the people meant to protect them.
A Sunday Morning Raid
The drama unfolded early on Sunday, 10 May 2026, when police teams moved in to arrest their own bosses. Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa was taken into custody and is currently being held at a police station in Pretoria. Major-General Firoz Khan, who leads the team that is supposed to catch spies and corrupt officers, was also picked up.
A third person, a civilian whose name has not yet been released, was also arrested as part of the same investigation. The SAPS has confirmed the arrests but has not yet given all the details about how the illegal deals were carried out.
The "Eyes and Ears" Turned Blind
This arrest is a massive blow to the reputation of the SAPS. Major-General Khan was the head of Counter-Intelligence within Crime Intelligence. His job was to be the "eyes and ears" of the police, making sure that no one inside the force was breaking the law or working with criminals.
Major-General Kadwa, as the head of the Hawks in Gauteng, was in charge of investigating the most serious crimes in South Africa’s richest province. Just a few weeks ago, he was in the news for praising his team for catching other criminals. Now, he is the one facing a judge.
The "Madlanga Commission" Connection
The arrests are believed to be linked to the work of the "Madlanga Commission," which has been investigating high-level corruption in the government and the police. Sources say that investigators have been watching the two generals for some time.
This is not the first time Kadwa’s name has come up in a scandal. In April 2026, there were reports that he was being investigated for allegedly hiding a bribery racket within his own office. It was claimed that he helped to stop a R64 million fraud case from going to court. It seems that those investigations have finally caught up with him.
A Pattern of Corruption
The arrest of Khan and Kadwa is part of a worrying trend in the SAPS. Over the last few months, several senior officers have been taken to court for various crimes.
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Date
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Incident
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Details
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March 2026
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Medicare 24 Tender Fraud
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12 senior police officers arrested for a R360 million tender scam.
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April 2026
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Military Base Thefts
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Questions raised about "inside jobs" after weapons and tech were stolen.
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May 2026
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Precious Metals Sting
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Heads of Hawks and Counter-Intelligence arrested for illegal gold/diamond deals.
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The fact that the very people at the top of the Hawks and Crime Intelligence are being arrested shows how deep the corruption may go. These are the units that are supposed to be the "cleanest" and most elite in the country.
What Happens Next?
The two generals and the civilian are expected to appear in court very soon. They will face serious charges related to the illegal possession and dealing of precious metals. If they are found guilty, they could spend many years in prison.
The Minister of Police and the National Commissioner are under huge pressure to explain how two of their top men could be involved in such serious crimes for so long without being caught. There are already calls for a complete "cleanup" of the senior ranks of the police.
For now, the seats of the Gauteng Hawks boss and the Counter-Intelligence head are empty. The SAPS will have to work hard to prove to the public that they are still capable of fighting crime when their own leaders are the ones in handcuffs.
