Uncertainty over when Suliman Carrim will next appear before Madlanga Commission

Madlanga Commission: next Carrim appearance still unclear after hospitalisation

North West businessman Suliman Carrim has not yet returned to testify at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry after his scheduled appearance on 29 April was postponed when he was taken to hospital following an alleged heart attack.

Postponed testimony and limited updates

Carrim’s April 29 testimony was postponed after he allegedly suffered a heart attack while at a gym and was treated at Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. His lawyer, Kameel Premhid, said he could not discuss the matter with the media because of ethical rules and was unable to confirm whether a new date had been set or whether Carrim’s health had improved sufficiently for him to testify.

“I cannot talk to the media about the matter as that would breach our ethical rules. You may contact the attorney for such information as they can talk to you,”

Attempts to reach Carrim’s instructing attorney, Sikander Tayob, were unsuccessful; Tayob’s office said he was out of the country. The commission’s spokesperson, Jeremy Michaels, had not responded to a media inquiry about a new hearing date.

Background to Carrim’s testimony

During a previous appearance in March, Carrim faced questions about allegations linking him to an irregularly awarded tender to Medicare24 Tshwane District, a company associated in testimony with alleged crime mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Carrim denied influencing suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and said he had no connection to the minister.

Carrim told the commission he advanced R10 million to Matlala after being told Matlala had won a SAPS medical services contract but was experiencing cash-flow problems. He said Matlala agreed to repay R20 million over a three-year contract period, and that he had asked Brown Mogotsi to confirm the legitimacy of the tender.

Financial trail and related allegations

The commission heard evidence suggesting alleged money laundering involving Matlala, tender tycoon Hangwani Maumela, and Carrim. Carrim said Matlala paid him R1.75 million by mid-March 2025 and had asked him to pay third parties, including a requested payment to Maumela and later payments to Luthagha Trading Enterprise, which the commission heard is allegedly linked to Maumela’s sister.

Through his company Ziggy Investment, Carrim told the commission he paid Luthagha more than R42 million between December 2023 and November 2024. He also said his company Tameez paid Luthagha more than R3 million between August 2024 and March 2025.

Carrim said he and Maumela discussed a mining project in 2023 and agreed arrangements to raise funds. He said Maumela raised R56 million and transferred it to Carrim’s Ziggy account, later requesting a refund and asking for large sums to be paid out through his trust lawyers.

Defence and wider inquiries

Carrim defended his dealings with Matlala and Maumela as legitimate business transactions and told the commission he believed the funds that passed through his accounts were part of bona fide business activity. The Special Investigating Unit earlier implicated Matlala and Maumela in the Tembisa Hospital scandal, involving alleged looting through fraudulent tenders.

Related legal tussles at the commission

On Friday prior to Carrim’s postponed appearance, Brown Mogotsi unsuccessfully sought to have chief evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC recuse himself, claiming coercion to implicate Carrim. Mogotsi repeatedly told the commission he did not want to answer questions that might incriminate him and was cautioned by co-commissioner Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC about the legal distinction between invoking the right against self-incrimination and refusing to answer outright.

At the time of reporting, no new date for Carrim to return to the Madlanga Commission had been confirmed publicly.

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