Top cop’s attendance at EFF gala ‘shameful, undesirable’ – Public Interest SA

EFF

Cape Town – The Public Interest South Africa (PISA) has reportedly criticised the attendance of Major-General Feroz Khan, the second-in-command of SAPS Crime Intelligence, at the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) gala dinner.

According to News24, PISA considers Khan’s association with the EFF and its allegedly corrupt supporters as shameful, particularly given the widespread crime in South Africa.

Khan was seen sharing a table with Adriano Mazzotti, a self-confessed tobacco smuggler who has ties to the EFF and its leaders.

The EFF has been implicated in the VBS bank scandal and other alleged crimes, the report said.


“While Section 46(2)(b) does not prohibit SAPS members from attending political meetings, we find the political fraternisation of Khan, the second-in-command of Crime Intelligence at the SAPS, with confessed criminals and political leaders currently under scrutiny by the criminal justice system, to be undesirable, shameful, offensive to, and [a] slap [in] the face of South Africans who are grappling with widespread crime,” the report quoted PISA chairperson Tebogo Khaas as saying in a statement.

PISA urged the national police commissioner to conduct an internal investigation into Khan’s actions and proximity to individuals under investigation.

They also called on the police and other state entities to provide ethical leadership training programmes for senior officials, guiding them on avoiding conflicts of interest, inappropriate associations, and upholding principles of impartiality and fairness in their actions.

Meanwhile, according to The Citizen, the EFF leader Julius Malema revealed that his platinum table at the gala dinner sold three times more than expected.

The dinner, held at Emperor’s Palace on Thursday, was also attended by among others, families of the shot Marikana miners and UDM leader Bantu Holomisa.

Malema praised Mazzotti, saying his party was not ashamed to be associated with him.

The event, held at Emperor’s Palace, was attended by various guests, including Marikana massacre victims’ families, students from the party’s writing competition, and relatives of organisation leaders.

“It has been a journey of unbroken struggle and we felt it was important to invite those in the business community and key stakeholders to engage the leadership of the EFF, reflect and plan the future.

“Seated here is a man called Adriano Mazzotti. He gave us money on the day we launched the EFF. When the IEC asked us to pay the money, Floyd [Shivambu] and I had nothing.

“We looked at each other in the eyes and said what is going to happen? That time they asked for R650 000 and we had no means.

“Later to be told through a telephone call, Mazzotti has got a very unique voice: ‘Brother, the money is paid’, then we knew we’re good to go.

“That is how the EFF was allowed to contest the first election in 2014.”

The EFF leader staunchly defended Mazzotti, refuting all accusations of criminal wrongdoing and emphasising that the controversial businessman has never faced any charges.

Malema asserted that the animosity towards Mazzotti stemmed solely from his financial support of a political party that consistently challenged the status quo and challenged the influence of “establishment” and white monopoly capital.

“We are very proud of Adriano Mazzotti and are not ashamed to associate with him. We don’t know his business because he’s not our business partner.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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