‘I Was Scared of Them’: Witness Details Alleged Money-Laundering Web Linking Carrim, Maumela, and Matlala

A North West businessman has testified that he was “scared” of both a tender tycoon and an alleged crime bossand that fear led him to make payments he now cannot explain.

Suliman Carrim’s two-day testimony before the Madlanga Commission has revealed an alleged money-laundering scheme involving:

• Hangwani Maumela, the tender tycoon at the centre of the Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal

• Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, alleged crime boss and Maumela associate

• Carrim himself, who acted as a middleman for multimillion-rand transactions

The Players

Maumela is accused of leading a syndicate that looted over R2 billion through fraudulent tenders at Tembisa Hospital. The SIU alleges the syndicate siphoned over R816.5 million through 1,728 separate purchase orders, bypassing procurement controls.

Matlala, described as Maumela’s associate, allegedly controlled three companies awarded contracts worth R13 million to R15 million as part of the syndicate. Most contracts were under R500,000below the tender threshold.

In October 2025, the SIU raided Maumela’s luxury Sandhurst mansion and seized assets, including Lamborghinis. A preservation order was obtained for assets worth roughly R900 million linked to the syndicate.

The Money Trail

Carrim testified that:

• He funded Matlala’s Medicare24 company with R10 million after Matlala cited cash flow issues following a R360 million SAPS tender award in 2024

• Matlala was evasive about repayment but paid R1.75 million by mid-March 2025

• Matlala then asked Carrim to pay R750,000 of that amount to Maumelawhich he initially refused

• He eventually agreed to pay R500,000 to Luthagha Trading Enterprise, allegedly linked to Maumela’s sister

But this was not his first payment to Luthagha. Carrim’s company, Ziggy Investment, paid Luthagha over R42 million between December 2023 and November 2024. Another company, Tameez, paid Luthagha over R3 million between August 2024 and March 2025.

The Mining Deal

Carrim also discussed a mining project with Maumela in 2023, agreeing to raise R50 million and R5 million in capital. Maumela raised R56 million and transferred it to Carrim’s accountbut later asked for a refund, citing issues with his house and losing R1 million monthly.

Hours after the money was deposited, Maumela requested R40 million be paid through his trust lawyers.

The Unexplained Payments

On Tuesday, Carrim testified that he was unaware for two years that over R2 million had been withdrawn from his company, Tasmica Plant, to pay Matlala without his authorisation.

• First payment: R1 million on 27 June 2024

• Second payment: R1.12 million on 7 October 2024

Carrim promised to investigate and report back.

The Fear

Carrim conceded he was “scared of both Matlala and Maumela” and complied with their requests.

Evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC expressed concern about the R10 million loan to a relative stranger without securitycalling it “commercially odd.”

“All of these elements concern me and in my view cast doubt on the truth of your version of a loan,” Chaskalson said, suggesting Carrim appeared more like an investing partner than a lender.

He pointed out that Maumela kept receiving screenshots of Carrim’s conversations with Matlalaand got paid out of Carrim’s payments to Matlala.

The Legal Framework

Chaskalson noted that if the SAPS Medicare24 contract was obtained through fraud and corruption, the proceeds would be considered proceeds of crime, triggering Section 5 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) .

“One of the many issues which this commission is going to have to consider is whether to recommend money-laundering prosecution under Section 5 of POCA against either yourself, Matlala, or Maumela.”

The Next Chapter

Carrim will return for his next round of testimony on 16 April 2026.

The Bottom Line

R42 million. R56 million. R10 million. R2 million. Payments, loans, refunds, and unexplained withdrawals.

Three men. One alleged crime boss. One tender tycoon. One scared businessman.

And a commission trying to untangle a web that may stretch far beyond Tembisa Hospital.

{Source: IOL}

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