Crime Intelligence deputy head Major-General Feroz Khan has launched an urgent court application to block police from accessing data stored on electronic devices seized from his home, warning that sensitive intelligence could be exposed and place undercover operatives in grave danger.
In papers filed before the Johannesburg High Court, Khan argues that the South African Police Service (SAPS) carried out an unlawful and unconstitutional search at his Houghton residence, where officers confiscated several electronic devices, a firearm, and ammunition.
Khan is seeking an order compelling authorities to immediately return all seized devices, as well as identify and destroy any forensic copies of the data already extracted.
According to court documents, the devices contain highly sensitive information linked to ongoing investigations involving vehicle smuggling syndicates, illicit drug trafficking networks, political assassinations, gang-related violence, and murder cases.
Khan has warned that any unauthorised access to this information could expose the identities of intelligence personnel, surveillance teams, and undercover officers operating in dangerous environments.
In his affidavit, he states that if the information falls into the wrong hands, it could have deadly consequences.
He argues that the disclosure of confidential operational details could compromise active investigations, jeopardise years of intelligence work, and put the lives of covert officers at immediate risk.
Khan also claims that he surrendered the devices under duress, alleging that armed officers were present at his home during the search, creating an intimidating atmosphere that left him with little choice but to comply.
The urgent application comes shortly after Khan appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court alongside Gauteng Hawks head Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa and Durban businessman Tariq Downes.
The trio was granted bail of R20,000 each after facing charges related to the alleged unlawful possession of unwrought precious metal.
The case has intensified public scrutiny over internal tensions within South Africa’s law enforcement and intelligence structures, raising questions about how sensitive investigations are managed and protected.
Khan’s legal challenge is expected to test the boundaries between criminal investigations and the protection of classified intelligence, particularly where the safety of covert personnel is concerned.
The Johannesburg High Court is now expected to determine whether police investigators can proceed with downloading and analysing the contents of the seized devices, or whether the data must remain sealed pending further legal proceedings.
The outcome could have far-reaching implications not only for Khan’s case, but also for how intelligence-related evidence is handled in future criminal investigations.
