The Madlanga commission has postponed deputy Crime Intelligence head Feroz Khan’s testimony to 28 September, ordering an independent medical assessment amid scrutiny over altered and backdated sick notes.
Crime Intelligence deputy head Feroz Khan’s testimony has been postponed until 28 September, subject to an independent medical assessment to determine whether he is fit to appear before the Madlanga commission.
“The hearing of Major-General Feroz Khan’s evidence is postponed to Monday, 28 September 2026 at 09h30, at which hearing Major-General Feroz Khan shall be required to appear and testify in person,” commission chairperson Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga said on Tuesday.
The commission ordered Khan to submit his affidavit in response to its questions by no later than 18 September.
Khan will be excused from appearing on 28 September only if he voluntarily undergoes an independent evaluation by a medical specialist agreed upon by his representatives and the commission’s evidence leaders by no later than 8 September.
The independent medical professional must provide a report confirming Khan’s inability to testify on 28 September.
The commission has questioned Khan’s medical certificates after a labour dispute with the South African Police Service (SAPS) revealed that some of his sick notes had been backdated.
Khan was a no-show for his subpoenaed appearance on 1 September. His lawyers told the commission that he was recovering from an alleged attempted assassination on 28 June, which reportedly left him unconscious.
After the alleged targeted shooting in Houghton in June, Khan was discharged for rehabilitation but has reportedly since been readmitted to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg.
His legal team indicated that it would provide a new medical statement in support of the postponement application.
Evidence leader Adila Hassim revealed that Khan’s treating physician, Dr Fine, had submitted an affidavit admitting that he altered a medical certificate for Khan’s sick leave before the reported assassination attempt.
Fine said Khan’s son had requested the changes, which included backdating the certificate and changing the date on which Khan was declared fit to return to work from 30 June to 27 June.
Hassim said the circumstances highlighted the need for an independent assessment of Khan.
“This is to emphasise the importance of the independent medical evaluation of the patient himself and not to have an intermediate position where there are engagements with the treating doctor and so on,” Hassim said.
She said there was no legal basis preventing the commission from appointing an independent medical professional to assess Khan’s condition and determine whether he should be excused from testifying.
Khan’s lawyer, Muhammed Vally, told the commission that the sick notes had simply been revised after the SAPS requested further information about his incapacity to work.
Vally also requested that the commission keep Khan’s medical information confidential. He said Khan had been shot by unknown assailants and that required his testimony and related information to be protected.
“If this is to be conducted before the public, give us an opportunity to redact the sensitive bit before the record and then we can refer to documents and even flight it to the extent required,” Vally said.
The issue of Khan’s medical certificates also emerged in a Labour Court matter between Khan and the SAPS.
Crime Intelligence head General Dumisani Khumalo, Khan’s direct superior, submitted an affidavit concerning Khan’s application for incapacity leave.
One of Khan’s medical certificates stated: “General F Khan is currently medically unfit and booked off until 30 June 2026.”
Khumalo stated in his court papers that another medical certificate was submitted by Khan’s doctors on 20 August.
It stated: “General F Khan is still currently medically unfit and is booked off until 27 June 2026. The diagnosis remains the same, extreme stress, depression and anxiety.”
“What we see here is a change in the date, 27 June whereas the earlier certificate said 30 June,” said Hassim.
Khumalo argued that the change to the dates might have been linked to Khan’s shooting on 28 June.
“It is the respondent’s contention that the change appears to have been necessitated by the fact that the original sick note indicated that Major-General Khan was booked off sick until 30 June 2026. However, Major-General Khan was shot on 28 June 2026 which fell within the period covered by the original sick note.
“This could potentially have resulted in questions being raised regarding the approval of his temporary incapacity leave, particularly as questions could have been asked as to why he was out walking on the streets late at night while officially booked off sick,” said Khumalo in his Labour Court affidavit.
Hassim said Fine had submitted the affidavit because the matter was being investigated by the SAPS.
“On the medical certificate dated 18 May 2026, I made adjustments by adding the diagnosis stating he is being treated for extreme stress with symptoms of depression and anxiety. At that stage I did not know the implications of that date,” Fine said.
