One of South Africa’s most senior police officers, suspended deputy crime intelligence boss Maj-Gen Feroz Khan, survived an attempted assassination in Johannesburg, according to police reports from BBC and AOL. Khan was shot on Sunday evening as he was driving home and was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery, local media reported.

Timing of attack raises questions

The shooting occurred just days before Khan was scheduled to testify at the Madlanga commission, a public inquiry investigating criminality within South Africa’s police force, as Khan was arrested in May alongside two other individuals for alleged illegal gold dealing, according to the BBC. His anticipated appearance before the commission was linked to his involvement in a 2021 botched drug bust in Johannesburg.

South African police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe stated in a Monday release that investigations into the shooting were ongoing. “It is premature and irresponsible to speculate on any possible motive or to conclude that the incident is linked to his anticipated appearance before the [inquiry],” Mathe said, according to the BBC.

Background on the Madlanga commission

The Madlanga commission was established following allegations by senior police officer Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in July last year that organized crime groups had infiltrated the government. Khan was called to testify after his name surfaced repeatedly in the inquiry, including in relation to the 2021 incident. Local publication Daily Maverick reported that Khan was expected to be questioned about his alleged ties to Julius Malema, a firebrand politician, and political fixer Brown Mogotsi.

Khan has not publicly commented on the incident. He, another senior police officer, and a businessman were arrested last month for alleged illegal dealing and unlawful possession of precious metals, according to the BBC. The arrest was linked to an incident in 2021 when the businessman was found with unwrought gold weighing 75.9g (2.7 oz) at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport.

Context of ongoing police scrutiny

South Africa’s police force has faced increasing scrutiny over allegations of corruption and criminality; the Madlanga commission aims to investigate these claims, with several high-profile individuals already named in its proceedings. Khan’s arrest in May and the recent shooting highlight the tensions within the institution — While the motive for the attack remains unclear, the timing has led to speculation about its connection to Khan’s role in the inquiry.

As the investigation continues, authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation. The incident shows the challenges facing South Africa’s police force as it grapples with internal and external pressures to root out corruption and restore public trust.