In a stinging legal defeat for the deputy head of Crime Intelligence, the High Court has thrown out an urgent bid by Major General Mohammed Khan to reclaim a trove of electronic devices seized during a dramatic raid on his apartment. The ruling, handed down on Friday, clears the way for the sensitive material to remain in the hands of the Madlanga Commission—the powerful inquiry digging into criminal syndicates embedded within South Africa’s justice system.
Khan had argued passionately that the devices, confiscated during a May 10 search of his private residence, contained highly classified operational intelligence. His legal team warned the court that exposing such details could endanger the lives of undercover informants, compromise ongoing counter-intelligence operations, and even tip off sophisticated criminal networks. “This is not a matter of mere privacy,” Khan’s affidavit read. “This is a matter of life and death.”
But the state pushed back, confirming that all seized material had already been lawfully transferred to the Madlanga Commission, which operates under strict confidentiality protocols. Judge Thandi Moyo accepted the state’s assurance, ruling that the commission is better equipped to handle sensitive material while fulfilling its mandate to probe political interference and corruption in law enforcement. “The applicant has failed to show irreparable harm,” the judge declared, dismissing the application with costs.
Khan’s legal troubles are far from over. He faces criminal charges alongside Gauteng Hawks head Major General Ebrahim Kadwa and businessman Tariq Downes, stemming from a controversial 2021 seizure of undeclared gold at OR Tambo International Airport. The trio is accused of irregularities surrounding the confiscation and subsequent handling of the precious metal. All three are expected to return to the dock on July 14.
Legal analysts say Friday’s ruling sends a clear signal: even senior intelligence officials are not above scrutiny. For the Madlanga Commission, the devices may now become the key that unlocks a much deeper vault of alleged rot.
About The Author
