A late night call for help on a busy highway ended in gunfire. Preggy Padayachee, the uncle of former Crime Intelligence head Major General Feroz Khan, was killed in a shooting near Griffiths Road in Ekurhuleni. Police say the motive is still unknown, and no arrests have been made.
Here is a simple breakdown of what we know so far, written in an easy to follow way.
What happened on the R21
The shooting took place on Monday evening, 5 October 2026. It happened on the R21, on the stretch heading towards OR Tambo International Airport. Reports describe the attack as a suspected hit, although police have not confirmed that.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the incident began with a simple problem. A driver in a Fiat broke down and phoned a friend for help. The friend came to the scene with two other people.
While they were trying to sort out the vehicle, shots were fired at them. The driver tried to get away from the gunfire. He lost control of the car, and it crashed into a jersey barrier.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi gave the preliminary account. She said the driver had fatal injuries and was declared dead at the scene. Reports identify the man who died as Padayachee.
Who was hurt and who got away
Police say the shooting left one person dead and one person wounded. A second passenger was taken to hospital for medical treatment. The third person escaped without injury.
Reports say Padayachee’s friend was among those wounded. Police have not shared the names or condition of the other people involved, so it is best not to guess.
| Detail | What police and reports say |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday evening, 5 October 2026 |
| Place | R21, near Griffiths Road, Ekurhuleni |
| Direction | Towards OR Tambo International Airport |
| Charges opened | Murder and attempted murder |
| Motive | Unknown |
| Arrests | None so far |
Police investigation under way
SAPS has opened cases of murder and attempted murder. Colonel Nevhuhulwi said the motive for the shooting is currently unknown. She also confirmed that no arrests have been made.
She said investigations are ongoing. Detectives are working to establish what led to the shooting and who is responsible.
It is easy to jump to conclusions in a case like this. The family name and the timing make people curious. But police have not linked the killing to any other matter, and it would be unfair to claim otherwise without proof.
Why the name Padayachee is in the news
Preggy Padayachee was not only a relative. He also acted as a public voice for the family during difficult moments.
When Feroz Khan was shot in May, Padayachee spoke publicly on behalf of the family. He also responded publicly when Khan was later arrested.
At the time, he said that whoever carried out the attack on Khan must pay for it. That is a simple and direct message. It now sits uneasily beside the news of his own death.
Who is Feroz Khan?
Feroz Khan is a Major General and a former senior figure in Crime Intelligence. That division of SAPS gathers information to help police fight serious crime. Khan has since been dismissed from SAPS, where he served as deputy head of Crime Intelligence, after disciplinary proceedings.
He is expected to challenge that dismissal. He is also out on R20,000 bail in a separate case linked to alleged corruption.
The Madlanga Commission and its questions
Khan’s name also keeps surfacing at the Madlanga Commission, the commission of inquiry led by Mbuyiseli Madlanga. He was scheduled to appear before it on 6 October, the day after the shooting.
Parts of his evidence are meant to be heard behind closed doors. The commission ruled that only the commissioners, the evidence leaders and Khan’s legal team may attend that session. This followed concerns about evidence that had earlier been presented while he was absent.
His road to the witness stand has not been smooth. Khan did not show up on 28 September, even though he had been offered the option of testifying virtually. That offer came after an independent medical assessment.
Madlanga then turned down a later request for a postponement. He ruled that Khan had not complied with a valid subpoena. He also indicated that criminal charges should be pursued over the non attendance.
Allegations Khan has faced
Several claims have been raised before the commission. They include alleged links to businessmen associated with the tobacco company Carnilinx. They also include alleged links to former anti corruption head Andrea Johnson and to alleged cartel figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
MK party MP Vusi Shongwe has also made a serious claim. He alleges that he was offered millions of rand to stop probing Khan.
These are allegations. They have been raised in a public inquiry, but they are not court findings. Khan has the right to respond to them and to challenge his dismissal.
What this means for readers
For ordinary South Africans, this story is a reminder of how dangerous our roads can be at night. Breakdowns happen to everyone. Help should be easy to find, but safety always comes first.
Here are a few simple steps if your car breaks down on a major highway:
- Move as far off the road as you safely can.
- Switch on your hazard lights.
- Call for help and stay alert to your surroundings.
- Share your location with someone you trust.
If you have information about this shooting, you can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or visit the South African Police Service website for official contact details. For general guidance on government services, the official South African Government portal is another easy place to start.
What happens next
The next steps are fairly clear, even if the answers are not. Detectives must find out why a simple roadside stop turned deadly. They must also work out who fired the shots and whether the attackers had a specific target.
Meanwhile, the Madlanga Commission continues its work, and Khan’s legal fight over his dismissal is still ahead. Whether these events are connected is not known. Police have said nothing to suggest a link, and readers should wait for confirmed facts.
For now, a family is grieving, a wounded man is recovering, and a community is asking questions. We will know more as the investigation moves forward.
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