WhatsApp Messages Reveal Alleged SAPS Tender Rigging Plot
Leaked WhatsApp messages between suspended SAPS crime intelligence head Maj-Gen Feroz Khan and businessman Mohammad Sayed suggest a conspiracy to manipulate police procurement processes.
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Leaked WhatsApp messages reveal an alleged conspiracy between suspended South African Police Service (SAPS) crime intelligence head Major-General Feroz Khan and businessman Mohammad Sayed to manipulate police procurement processes. The messages, first reported by Timeslive and Sowetan Live, detail exchanges suggesting coordinated efforts to influence tenders for mutual benefit.
Khan, who was suspended from his position, reportedly engaged in direct communication with Sayed, a controversial figure known for his cigarette business. According to the messages, the two discussed leveraging their connections within SAPS to secure favorable procurement outcomes. Neither Timeslive nor Sowetan Live provided verbatim quotes, but both described the content as evidence of a coordinated effort to subvert tender processes.
The alleged scheme centers on manipulation of SAPS procurement, a critical function involving the acquisition of goods and services for the national police force. While the specific tenders involved were not named, the revelations raise serious concerns about integrity within the country’s law enforcement supply chain. SAPS has not issued a public statement on the matter, and it is unclear whether a formal investigation has been launched.
Both Timeslive and Sowetan Live published identical excerpts describing the WhatsApp conversations, indicating a shared source. No additional actors or documents were cited in the reports. The timing of the leak coincides with ongoing scrutiny of public sector procurement practices in South Africa.