Major-General Feroz Khan is no ordinary police officer. He is a man of shadows, a powerful and deeply controversial spy boss who has spent 35 years navigating the highest corridors of power while allegedly maintaining a foot in the country’s criminal underworld. From his penchant for multimillion-rand supercars to his mysterious background that remains largely obscure even to his peers, Khan has long been a figure of fascination and fear. But today, he is a man fighting for his life in a critical condition at Netcare Milpark Hospital.
The hit, which occurred on the night of June 28 in the affluent Johannesburg suburb of Houghton, was as clinical as it was brazen. Khan was followed for some distance by a car with no number plates before being shot twice. The timing was anything but accidental; Khan was scheduled to take the stand at the Madlanga Commission on July 1 to face a barrage of questions about his alleged relationships with EFF leader Julius Malema, tobacco baron Adriano Mazzotti, and a network of criminal operatives that has reportedly infiltrated the very heart of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
A Meteoric and Irregular Rise to Power
Feroz Khan’s ascent within the police force is a story of "extraordinary treatment" that has left many veteran officers fuming. Joining the intelligence structures as a constable in 1991, Khan rose steadily, but it was his 2017 promotion that truly set tongues wagging. In a move described by senior colleagues as "illegal and irregular," Khan was catapulted from colonel to major-general, bypassing the rank of brigadier entirely. Despite the fury of then-police minister Fikile Mbalula, who demanded the promotion be reversed, Khan remained in his position, seemingly protected by unseen hands.
Even more startling is the revelation that Khan allegedly spent two decades working in highly sensitive intelligence roles without the required security clearance. This meant he had access to the nation’s most guarded secrets without ever being vetted. During his time as the head of security and counterintelligence, Khan was responsible for the very unit that issues security clearance certificates to others—a case of the fox guarding the henhouse that has left the Madlanga Commission reeling.
The General’s Secret Empire: Supercars and Spares
While his official salary was that of a police general, Khan’s lifestyle suggested a far more lucrative source of income. Known as "one of the richest generals in the SAPS," he lived a life of luxury in Houghton and was frequently seen behind the wheel of high-end supercars. Investigative leads suggest that Khan was operating a multimillion-rand motor spares company, Spares Oasis, while serving in the police. The business reportedly generated a monthly income of more than R250,000—all without the required permission for outside work.
The conflict of interest was glaring, yet senior officials seemingly turned a blind eye for years. It was only when Khan’s name began to surface in connection with high-level corruption and the capture of law enforcement agencies by criminal syndicates that the true scale of his "secret empire" began to emerge.
The Malema Connection and the Tobacco Barons
Perhaps the most explosive allegations facing Khan involve his ties to the political elite and the controversial tobacco industry. Evidence presented to the Madlanga Commission suggests a longstanding relationship and regular communication between Khan and EFF leader Julius Malema. In one particularly damning revelation, Khan reportedly supplied Malema with the name and address of a complainant in a sensitive criminal matter.
Khan’s presence at an EFF fundraising gala dinner in 2023, where he shared a table with reclusive tobacco baron and EFF benefactor Adriano Mazzotti, further fueled the fire. While Khan claimed he was there on "legitimate intelligence work," his presence at such a high-profile political event, paid for by Mazzotti’s business partner, has been described as a blatant display of political capture. Recent WhatsApp chats leaked to the commission reportedly show Khan and his associates discussing tenders and criminal cases with alarming familiarity.
The Aeroton Cocaine Bust and the Gold Scandal
Khan’s interference in high-stakes criminal investigations has also come under intense scrutiny. In 2024, he was hauled before a disciplinary hearing for allegedly compromising a crime scene in Aeroton, Johannesburg, where officers had seized a multimillion-rand cocaine consignment. Witnesses claimed Khan arrived at the scene without authority and disrupted the investigation to protect unknown interests. Although he was cleared at the hearing, the Madlanga Commission has continued to grill witnesses about his "inappropriate" presence at the bust.
The final straw for Khan’s career came in May 2026, when he was arrested by the Political Killings Task Team in connection with a 2021 gold smuggling incident. Khan and Gauteng Hawks boss Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa allegedly made false representations to the National Prosecuting Authority to secure the release of a businessman found with unwrought gold. Both generals were subsequently suspended, and Khan’s electronic devices were seized, providing a treasure trove of evidence for the commission.
A Silenced Witness or a Targeted Hit?
As Feroz Khan lies in his hospital bed, the question remains: who wanted him dead? Was it the criminal syndicates he allegedly served, fearing he would "flip" to save himself? Or was it the political masters who could no longer afford his proximity? The fact that a "security-conscious" spy boss failed to notice he was being followed by a car with no plates has baffled investigators, leading some to wonder if the hit came from within his own inner circle.
The Madlanga Commission is continuing its work, with Day 132 seeing explosive evidence about Khan’s WhatsApp chats and his dealings with Mo Sayed. Whether Khan will ever take the stand to answer for his decades of deception is now a matter of medical life and death. One thing is certain: the "Spy Who Knew Too Much" has left behind a trail of corruption and capture that will take years to fully untangle.
