Feroz Khan's testimony postponed after relative shot dead in Ekurhuleni

Preggy Padayachee, a close relative of former Deputy Head of Crime Intelligence Feroz Khan, was shot and killed in Ekurhuleni on Monday night, hours after warning Khan that his upcoming testimony before the Madlanga Commission would “ruffle some feathers.”

A second passenger in the vehicle remains hospitalised in serious condition, while a third person walked away unharmed.

As eNCA reported on 6 October, Khan’s legal team has since spoken publicly about their client’s safety and the decision to postpone his testimony, which had been scheduled for Tuesday and was to be conducted remotely.

Muhammed Vally, speaking for Khan’s legal representatives, said the shooting of a family member made their concerns about Khan’s safety legitimate and ongoing. He said the legal team had engaged with the Madlanga Commission and would work with it to address those concerns.

“We now see that there’s a family member that has been shot. So, the concern, I think, is a legitimate concern and it’s an ongoing concern,” Vally said.

Khan was not in a condition to proceed with the testimony in the aftermath of the shooting, Vally added. He said the commission accepted there were sufficient grounds to permit the postponement.

Kylen Ghirao, also speaking for the legal team, said this was a difficult time and expressed hope that investigations would unmask the perpetrators.

Padayachee was Khan’s uncle-in-law. His death came on the eve of testimony that had been expected to draw significant public attention, given Khan’s former role in crime intelligence and the commission’s mandate to examine the functioning of the country’s intelligence services.

The Madlanga Commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, was established to investigate allegations of criminal conduct and irregularities within South Africa’s intelligence community. Its proceedings have been closely watched because they touch on the intersection of state security, law enforcement and political accountability.

For ordinary South Africans, the commission’s work matters because it examines whether the institutions meant to keep the country safe have themselves been compromised. The postponement of Khan’s evidence means the public will wait longer for his account, which was expected to form part of the commission’s broader inquiry.

The commission has not announced a new date for Khan’s testimony. It has said it will keep the public informed through its own releases.

No arrests have been reported in connection with Padayachee’s killing. The South African Police Service is investigating the shooting in Ekurhuleni.

The killing of a witness’s relative, shortly before that witness was due to testify, raises questions about the safety of people participating in public inquiries. It is a concern that has been raised in other commissions and in criminal proceedings in South Africa, where witness protection and the security of families have at times been tested.

Khan’s legal team has made clear it will cooperate with the commission on the scheduling of his evidence. For now, the commission’s work continues, and the investigation into Padayachee’s death is in the hands of the police.

Source: eNCA, Khan’s legal team breaks silence after Padayachee’s murder