Madlanga Commission | Khan expected to testify on Tuesday, criminal case opened against Carrim

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry says suspended Crime Intelligence boss, Major-General Feroz Khan, is expected to appear before the commission on Tuesday, 1 September.

Khan previously failed to appear at the commission after he was shot on 3rd Avenue in Houghton, Johannesburg, in June, just days before he was due to testify after being implicated by previous witnesses.

Khan, who spent time in hospital recovering from his injuries and was discharged in July, was reportedly readmitted to a Johannesburg hospital over the weekend, just days before he is expected to face questions at the Madlanga Commission.

Commission spokesperson, Jeremy Michaels, says Khan’s subpoena remains in full effect, despite his reported readmission to hospital.

Michaels has also confirmed that criminal charges were laid last week against controversial North West businessman, Suliman Carrim, after he repeatedly failed to appear before the inquiry.

Michaels said the case was opened by the commission’s secretary.

Carrim has missed several scheduled appearances, citing ill health, but has refused to undergo an independent medical assessment.

The commission also heard explosive allegations from Hawks officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Deena Govender, against suspended Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu. Govender claims Mchunu directed him to implicate KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, in 172 shootings recorded in the province.

He testified before the Madlanga Commission on Monday after his request to have his evidence heard behind closed doors was rejected.

Govender alleges that Mchunu communicated the instruction through his associate and alleged nephew, Mavuso Ntandani.

He says he requested protection if the plan to implicate Mkhwanazi was to proceed, fearing for his safety.

Govender further told the commission that Ntandani put him in direct contact with Mchunu over the phone.

“…and from his phone, there is a buildup, Commissioners, of the conversation with Mavuso and the minister before he hands the phone to me. So the build up will be played just now saying that I am scared and that I need to be protected, and it goes on in the voice note that we played just now. He then passes the phone to me. So when I take Mavuso’s phone and put it on my ear, on the other side I recognised a voice, which is that of Minister Senzo,” Govender said.

Govender has also strongly denied allegations that he was paid to orchestrate the murder of tow-truck operator, Bevan Loftus.

The allegations were previously made by IPID Senior Investigator, Len John and Loftus’s father, Gregory.

Govender told the commission that police were actively pursuing Bevan at the time and alleged that Gregory would secretly help his son evade arrest whenever officers arrived at their home.

He says this made it increasingly difficult for police to apprehend Bevan.

Govender also rejected allegations of an improper relationship with alleged gang leader and tow-truck operator, Clive Naicker, insisting their relationship is strictly professional.

He said Naicker works closely with police on investigations in KwaZulu-Natal.

Len John previously alleged that Govender received kickbacks after being commissioned by Naicker to orchestrate Loftus’s killing in April 2023.

Govender says he first met Naicker while investigating an escalating tow-truck conflict between operators in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

The commission also previously heard allegations that police had threatened to kill Loftus, a claim Govender has vehemently rejected.

“Certainly that’s absolutely not true, commissioner. Remember whenever we went to the house, commissioner, he wasn’t alone. He was with a number of people. So that definitely did not happen,” Govender said.

The commission also heard questions about how Govender and his wife came to own a home valued at more than R2.3 million while he earned a monthly salary of about R26,000.

Govender said late businessman, Josh Chelin, assisted him with the purchase and that he regarded Chelin as a father figure.

The commission previously heard that the couple purchased the property after Loftus was killed.

Some witnesses have suggested that money allegedly received from Naicker after Loftus’s killing was used to finance the property.

Govender has vehemently rejected the allegation.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao