High-ranking police officials deny illicit business and obstruction allegations

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Businessman Tariq Downes and Major-Generals Feroz Khan and Ebrahim Ahmed Kadwa appeared before the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court.

High-ranking police officials deny illicit business and obstruction allegations — **CORRUPTION PROBE:** A businessman and two major generals charged with metal act violations. **Image:** *NPA*

They are facing charges related to violations of the Precious Metals Act as well as accusations of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

The charges involve an incident on May 5, 2021, where Downes was reportedly found with 75.9 grams of unwrought gold, valued at around R62,836, at OR Tambo International Airport.

Kaizer Kganyago, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, stated that an individual under questioning identified the metal as a brass bar and claimed to be an undercover agent linked to senior SAPS officials.

Businessman Tariq Downes,Head of Counter-Intelligence in @SAPoliceService Maj.Gen Feroz Khan, & the Gauteng Head of the DPCI, Maj.Gen Ebrahim Ahmed Kadwa, appeared before the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on contravention of the Precious Metals Act & defeating course of justice pic.twitter.com/z9cAXpktjz
— NPASouthAfrica (@NPA_Prosecutes) May 11, 2026

“Investigations allegedly established that no authorised undercover operation involving precious metals existed at the time.

Officers instructed the release of the businessman

“The state further alleges that Khan and Kadwa instructed officers to release Downes despite there being no supporting documentation for such an operation,” Kganyago remarked.

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The case has been postponed to 14 July for further investigation, with the trio granted bail of R20,000 under specific conditions.