Madlanga Commission told Feroz Khan’s medical certificate was backdated after police received it

Evidence leaders at the Madlanga Commission told the inquiry that a medical certificate for Major-General Feroz Khan was amended and backdated after the South African Police Service (SAPS) had already received it. The claim emerged during debate over Khan’s request to postpone his appearance before the commission.

Disputed certificates and differing dates

Advocate Adila Hassim presented the contested medical certificate and highlighted inconsistencies in the dates and medical information recorded on the documents. Hassim said the treating doctor initially issued a certificate dated May 22 stating Khan was expected to be fit to return to work on June 30.

She said a different certificate produced on August 20 changed the return-to-work date to June 27 and added a diagnosis of extreme stress, and depression.

Allegation police had already seen the original certificate

Hassim told the commission that SAPS, via Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo, had already received the certificate and had asked Khan for further information about his diagnosis not for the date on the certificate to be altered.

“The certificate had already been submitted,” Hassim said. “It was a lie.”

Doctor’s affidavit and family involvement

The commission heard that the evidence was contained in public court papers linked to Khan’s Labour Court challenge, which was dismissed on August 31 for lack of jurisdiction. According to an affidavit by the doctor who issued the original certificate, Khan’s son had approached the doctor and requested that the date be changed.

The doctor allegedly believed the request involved “some minor bureaucratic difficulties” and initially did not seek further explanation, but later warned Khan’s son that changing the certificate could amount to fraud if the original document had already been submitted to the police. The son allegedly contacted Khan, who then confirmed that the original certificate had not been submitted.

Legal teams and the commission’s decision

Khan’s lawyer, Mohamed Vally, told the commission that Khan had been admitted to hospital and sought a postponement. Vally described the document as a “historical medical record” and rejected its relevance. Hassim argued that the disputed medical history, delays in Khan’s appearance and an outstanding statement made an independent medical assessment necessary.

Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga was not persuaded by arguments from Khan’s legal team but declined to compel Khan to undergo an independent medical examination and also refused to grant an unconditional postponement.

Next steps

The commission previously set conditions relating to independent medical assessment deadlines. The matter remains before the Madlanga Commission as proceedings continue.