North West businessman Suliman Carrim is set to testify at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry about his business relationships with Vusimuzi Matlala and Hangwani Maumela on June 25, 2026.
Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers
North West businessman Suliman Carrim’s testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has been shifted to 25 June because he is still recovering after allegedly suffering a heart attack at the gym and being rushed to the hospital for treatment.
This was made known during the commission’s proceedings on Monday, where Carrim was represented by his lawyer Kameel Premhid.
The postponement was confirmed on Monday after chief evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC and Carrim’s lawyer Kameel Premhid reached an agreement, which the commission made an order of the court.
Chaskalson said Carrim was subpoenaed for Monday but submitted a medical report on Friday showing he was unfit to appear.
“There has been a fairly lengthy to-ing and fro-ing in correspondence - the upshot of which was that on Friday a detailed current medical report was furnished indicating that Mr Carrim is not fit to appear today,” he said.
He added that the commission undertook to Carrim’s lawyers that it would not disclose the details of the medical report.
Chaskalson said although Carrim was subpoenaed to appear before the commission, in light of the medical report it was not necessary for him to appear in person on Monday.
He explained that the commission faces a challenging situation with only two months of hearings remaining before the submission of its final report on August 31, 2026.
He initially suggested that Carrim’s testimony be scheduled between 29 June and 1 July. However, following engagement with Carrim’s legal team, they reached an agreement for his testimony to be heard on 25 June.
Carrim’s scheduled testimony will be heard following a failed bid by North West businessman and alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi to have Chaskalson recuse himself.
Mogotsi claimed that Chaskalson tried to coerce him into implicating Carrim.
Carrim testified in March on allegations that he used ANC connections to help alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala secure an irregular tender through his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District.
He denied influencing suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, saying he has no connection to him.
Carrim told the commission he advanced Matlala R10 million after Matlala said he’d secured a SAPS medical services tender but was short on cash. Matlala allegedly agreed to repay double that amount over three years.
Carrim said he asked Mogotsi to check if the tender was legitimate, and Mogotsi confirmed it was.
The commission also heard allegations of money laundering involving Carrim, Matlala and tender tycoon Hangwani Maumela, and scrutinised the flow of funds between them.
Meanwhile, the commission also heard that the testimony of KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona, who was also expected to take the stand on Monday, has been postponed to June 5.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za