Two senior SAPS major-generals, Feroz Khan and Ebrahim Kadwa, have been granted bail after appearing in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Monday alongside businessman Tariq Downes in a case that has sent fresh shockwaves through the police service. The matter centres on allegations linked to the Precious Metals Act and defeating the ends of justice, placing renewed focus on corruption and alleged criminal networks inside law enforcement.
The court ordered that each of the three accused be released on R20,000 bail, but under strict conditions. They are barred from interfering with the ongoing investigation or contacting any witnesses, and they must hand over their passports to the investigating officer by 12 May. If any of them plans to leave the country, they must notify the investigating officer at least 72 hours in advance.
The case has now been postponed to 14 July to allow for further investigation. Importantly, the State did not oppose bail, clearing the way for the three to leave custody while the probe continues.
Khan’s arrest on Sunday followed a high-profile raid at his Houghton apartment, which was part of a larger operation targeting what police believe is an illicit precious metals syndicate. The arrest and the court appearance have put the spotlight back on the scale of alleged corruption inside elite police ranks, especially where organised crime and financial gain may intersect.
The presence of two senior officers in the dock has deepened concern within the policing community and among ordinary South Africans who have grown increasingly frustrated with allegations of misconduct in SAPS. For many, the case is not just about the three accused, but about what it suggests regarding possible abuse of power and the integrity of crime-fighting institutions.
Speaking outside court, SAPS spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said it was disappointing to see senior officers appearing before a magistrate, but she stressed that the organisation was committed to confronting wrongdoing within its own ranks. “But it shows that as an organisation we are committed to integrity, transparency and rooting out wrongdoing and corruption within our ranks. We always maintain that no one is above the law,” she said.
Her comments reflect an institution under pressure to prove that it can investigate its own people fairly and decisively. In recent years, the police service has faced repeated criticism over corruption allegations, internal discipline failures and the perceived reluctance to act swiftly when senior figures are implicated.
This latest SAPS major-generals bail matter is likely to be closely watched in the coming weeks, especially as investigators continue to build the case ahead of the July court date. The conditions imposed by the court suggest authorities are treating the matter seriously, even as the accused remain free pending further proceedings.
For now, the arrests and bail conditions mark only the beginning of what could become a lengthy and politically sensitive legal process. As we reported earlier, the allegations touch on issues that go far beyond one court appearance, raising uncomfortable questions about how deep organised crime may run and how effectively South Africa’s law enforcement institutions are policing themselves.
The next hearing on 14 July will be a key moment in the case, with investigators expected to present more information as the matter unfolds. Until then, the SAPS major-generals bail story remains one of the most closely followed corruption-related developments in the country’s policing sector.