The Madlanga Commission continues to comb through the WhatsApp messages of Major-General Feros Khan, the suspended deputy head of crime intelligence, while he remains bedridden in hospital after being shot.
Evidence leader Adila Hassim used the chats to demonstrate how Khan allegedly used his influence within the police and other government departments to enrich himself and his associates.
In one of the messages, Khan suggests to his associate Ismail Vally, who owns Kaizen Motor Spares, that they had undercharged in their bid for a police car parts tender that was being managed and adjudicated by the National Treasury. He suggested that they would increase their prices once they had been awarded the contract.
“At the top of the page, it says Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and Northern Cape prices were not submitted. We should have. So this was a transversal tender for SAPS across provinces.
General Khan is saying that there are three provinces where prices were not submitted in the tender. We should have. He then follows in the next message by saying we were too cheap, but we must find a way to increase prices later.
Mr Vally responds immediately. He says we must apply for a price increase as soon as we get the tender because it has been delayed for too long,” said Evidence Leader Adila Hassim, interpreting the WhatsApp chats.
Hassim told the inquiry that the two men had a mutually beneficial and corrupt relationship, citing, among other things, the pressure Vally applied on Khan when there were delays in the awarding of the contract.
“On the 5th of August, at page 5303, at the top of the page, Mr Vally says: ‘How long do you think before Treasury awards?’ General Khan responds: ‘I am with our friend now, I will ask.’ And then Mr Vally thanks him.
General Khan says: ‘I wanted you to greet the brother.’ Mr Vally says: ‘Marf bro was sleeping,’ meaning, sorry, we’re sleeping. General Khan responds: ‘He’s gone now.’
So this is an inquiry about when Treasury will make the award. General Khan is indicating that he is with our friend and that he will find out. He also wanted to introduce Mr Vally directly. He wanted Mr Vally to speak directly to our friend.
On the 20th of August, at page 5322, halfway down the page, Mr Vally asks: ‘Bro, what did our man say? Is it all on track? Will we win a good slice?'” Hassim said, referring to the conversations.