A Hawks Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS) official, identified at the Madlanga Commission as Witness I, has alleged that suspended Gauteng Crime Intelligence head Major-General Feroz Khan and Gauteng Hawks head Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa exerted improper control over a 2021 drug bust in Aeroton. The witness testified on 9 June 2026, claiming that senior officers interfered with operations to the extent of releasing a detained suspect.
Allegations Of Operational Interference
During proceedings at the Commission of Inquiry investigating corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS), Witness I described how the arrival of senior leadership disrupted the scene of the July 2021 raid. The witness alleged that the senior officers bypassed established protocols during the operation.
General Khan just hijacked and took over the scene.
In a submitted written statement, Witness I further alleged that a truck driver who had been apprehended by law enforcement officers on site was subsequently released from custody by Major-General Khan. These claims stand in contrast to a previous internal investigation led by Mpumalanga Hawks head Major-General Nico Gerber, which concluded that both Khan and Kadwa were acting within the scope of their official duties during the incident.
Bribery Allegations And Witness Intimidation
Witness I also provided testimony regarding an alleged attempt to subvert his cooperation with the Commission. He claimed that in January 2025, during a meeting involving businessman Brown Mogotsi, he was offered a financial incentive and a promotion in return for altering his evidence to support Major-General Khan.
Col said I will get a bag and they will facilitate a promotion if I help Maj Gen Khan.
The witness also implicated Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, alleging that the individual acted as a police informant who facilitated the meeting regarding the bribe. These assertions of bribery and corruption remain under investigation by the Commission, as the body continues to vet evidence regarding allegations of systemic misconduct within the police leadership. The Commission is expected to continue its hearings to determine the veracity of these claims and the potential broader implications for SAPS integrity.