By Mapaballo Borotho
- Court papers before the Madlanga Commission have revealed allegations that journalist and anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee was threatened over his work exposing the illicit tobacco trade.
- Abramjee claims the alleged threats involved senior police officer Feroz Khan and tobacco businessman Mohamed Sayed, allegations that form part of documents before the commission.
- He says the claims will not deter his efforts to expose corruption and criminal networks linked to the illicit cigarette market.
Anti-crime activist and journalist Yusuf Abramjee says he has allegedly been threatened by senior police officer Feroz Khan and tobacco businessman Mohamed Sayed over his advocacy and reporting on South Africa’s illicit tobacco trade.
Abramjee, who is also the founder of Tax Justice South Africa (TJSA), says he will not be intimidated or silenced by those seeking to protect the illegal tobacco market.
The allegations emerged from court papers before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
According to the documents, after Abramjee publicly raised concerns about cigarette brands allegedly being sold without the payment of required taxes, Sayed allegedly sent a message to Khan stating: “Abramjee gonna get f***ed up bru.”
The court papers further allege that Khan responded: “f*** him up bro,” before adding: “He must stay in his lane.”
The allegations form part of evidence and documentation currently before the commission. No findings have been made by the commission regarding the allegations.
Earlier this year, Abramjee criticised the government over what he described as failures to adequately regulate the cigarette industry and combat the illicit tobacco trade.
The illicit tobacco market has been identified as one of the factors contributing to the planned closure of the manufacturing operations of British American Tobacco South Africa in Heidelberg, Gauteng.
The company previously announced that local production would end by the close of 2026, affecting more than 200 jobs.
Abramjee said the alleged threats highlighted the lengths to which powerful interests may be prepared to go to protect South Africa’s illicit tobacco economy, which he claims deprives the country of billions of rand in tax revenue annually.
“For years we have warned that illicit tobacco is a gateway to corruption, organised crime, state capture and the erosion of public institutions,” Abramjee said.
He added that the allegations contained in the court papers would not deter his efforts to expose criminality and corruption linked to the illicit tobacco trade.
“No amount of intimidation, threats or legal bullying will stop us from exposing those responsible,” he said.
The Madlanga Commission continues to hear evidence relating to allegations of criminality, corruption and misconduct within parts of the criminal justice system.
Meanwhile, Major General Firoz Khan was previously arrested for his alleged involvement in an incident at OR Tambo International Airport last month, where a businessman allegedly attempted to leave the country with undeclared raw precious metals.
He has also been accused, based on witness testimony at the Madlanga Commission, of shielding criminal syndicates.
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