The South African Police Service has deployed its most senior investigative units to probe an apparent assassination attempt on Deputy Head of Crime Intelligence, Major General Feroz Khan.

Khan was shot on Sunday evening, on 3rd Avenue in Houghton, Johannesburg. 

The police confirmed that Khan survived the attack and is receiving medical care and says the circumstances of the shooting remain under investigation.

Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane said that the case is placed under a multi-unit task force and announced that the investigation is led by the Gauteng Hawks, Gauteng Crime Intelligence, and the SAPS Detective Service, and also instructed the Political Killings Task Team, PKTT, to join the probe. 

“The PKTT will ensure every possible lead is pursued and those behind the shooting are identified and arrested.

“It would be premature and irresponsible to speculate on a motive before investigators have established the facts,” Dimpane said. 

Dimpane said detectives will follow the evidence wherever it leads and that any attempt to intimidate, silence or attack participants in judicial processes would be treated as a priority. 

She says the service also cautioned that interference with the commission’s work would be met with the full might of the law

Dimpane also strongly condemned the attack and wished Khan a speedy recovery.

 “I am reassuring the public that SAPS is committing maximum resources to the investigation. No effort will be spared in identifying, tracing and arresting those responsible,” she said. 

The shooting comes a month before Khan was scheduled to testify before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry scheduled for 1 July. SAPS acknowledged public speculation linking the attack to his anticipated testimony, but warned against concluding.

Police have appealed for information from the public to assist investigators and says the investigation is ongoing.