The South African Police Service has confirmed the dismissal of Major General Feroz Khan after he failed to appear before an officer handling an expedited disciplinary process.
The decision was made under Regulation 9(7)(b) of the SAPS Discipline Regulations, according to a statement issued by the police service on Wednesday.
SAPS said the disciplinary provision applied after Khan did not attend the required proceedings before the designated senior officer responsible for dealing with the matter.
SAPS Confirms Khan Dismissal
The police service confirmed that Khan is no longer a member of SAPS following the application of the disciplinary regulation.
“Major General Khan was deemed dismissed in terms of Regulation 9(7)(b) of the SAPS Discipline Regulations, following his failure to appear before the designated senior officer responsible for dealing with the expeditious disciplinary process,”
The statement makes clear that the dismissal was connected to Khan’s failure to appear before the designated senior officer overseeing the expeditious disciplinary process.
Regulation 9(7)(b) forms part of the disciplinary framework governing members of the police service and provides the basis cited by SAPS for Khan’s deemed dismissal.
The police service did not provide further details in the statement about the underlying allegations or disciplinary charges that led to the proceedings.
Disciplinary Process At Centre Of Matter
The circumstances surrounding Khan’s failure to appear are central to the action announced by SAPS, which described the process as an expeditious disciplinary procedure.
Rather than announcing a conventional dismissal following a completed hearing, SAPS specifically described Khan as having been deemed dismissed under the relevant regulation.
The wording indicates that the disciplinary consequences followed his failure to attend the proceedings before the senior officer assigned to deal with the matter.
SAPS did not state in its announcement whether Khan had provided a reason for failing to appear, nor did it outline any response from the former major general regarding the disciplinary action.
The police service also did not provide details of the date on which Khan was expected to appear or the specific steps taken before the deemed dismissal was confirmed.
Those details may be relevant to understanding the broader disciplinary matter, particularly because SAPS acknowledged that the case has also been connected to legal proceedings.
SAPS Reaffirms Accountability
Alongside confirming Khan’s dismissal, SAPS reiterated its position that members of the organisation are expected to comply with its disciplinary framework regardless of their rank.
“No member, regardless of rank or position, is above the law or the applicable disciplinary framework.
The statement places the Khan matter within the police service’s wider position on accountability and professional standards among its members.
SAPS said its approach is intended to reinforce discipline within the organisation, including adherence to procedures that apply to senior officials.
The service did not suggest that Khan’s rank provided any exemption from the disciplinary provisions, instead stressing that the same framework applies irrespective of an officer’s position.
The emphasis on accountability comes as SAPS continues to manage disciplinary matters involving members across different levels of the organisation.
For Khan, the immediate consequence is the termination of his status as a major general within the police service through the regulatory process cited in the announcement.
Legal Proceedings Remain Relevant
SAPS acknowledged that the matter has been the subject of legal proceedings, adding an important legal dimension to the disciplinary decision.
“As the matter has been the subject of legal proceedings, SAPS will continue to respect and abide by the decisions of the courts and provide further information where legally permissible,”
The statement indicates that the police service intends to limit any additional disclosure to information that can lawfully be made public while court-related issues remain relevant.
SAPS did not identify the specific court proceedings involved or provide details about any orders, judgments or applications connected to Khan’s case.
The service nevertheless stated that it would comply with decisions issued by the courts, signalling that the disciplinary action must be considered alongside the judicial process surrounding the matter.
This position also leaves open the possibility that further information could emerge if legal restrictions no longer prevent SAPS from discussing aspects of the case.
For now, the police service has confined its public explanation to confirmation of the deemed dismissal, the disciplinary regulation relied upon and its position regarding accountability and ongoing legal obligations.
Information Still Limited
The SAPS statement does not set out the allegations that originally resulted in disciplinary proceedings involving Khan, meaning the public record provided in the announcement remains limited.
It also does not explain the full procedural history leading to his failure to appear before the designated senior officer.
Without those details, the precise circumstances behind the disciplinary dispute cannot be established from the police service’s statement alone.
SAPS has, however, confirmed the specific regulatory basis for the dismissal and linked the decision directly to Khan’s failure to appear during the expeditious disciplinary process.
The police service’s reference to legal proceedings further indicates that additional aspects of the matter may be subject to judicial consideration or restrictions on public disclosure.
Any further developments are therefore likely to depend on the progress of the legal process and on what information SAPS is legally permitted to release.