By Johnathan Paoli
The bail application of National Coloured Congress (NCC) leader Fadiel Adams was postponed on Wednesday after the state accused him of abusing his parliamentary status, undermining the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), and showing contempt for police and court processes.
Presiding over the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court in KwaZulu-Natal, magistrate Wendalynn Robinson adjourned proceedings after both the state and defence completed extensive arguments relating to Adams’ bid for bail on fraud and defeating the ends of justice charges.
State prosecutor advocate Nokulunga Ngcobo read into the record an affidavit by investigating officer Sgt Sandile Mavuka of the PKTT, detailing allegations linked to Adams’ visits to Westville Prison in November 2024 and January 2025, where he interviewed two inmates, one of whom was awaiting trial.
Adams faces two counts of defeating or obstructing the course of justice and three counts of fraud after allegedly conducting interviews with two awaiting-trial inmates at Westville Correctional Centre in November 2024 and January 2025.
One inmate, Sibusiso Ncengwa, is linked to the murder case of former ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, while the other, former SAPS sergeant Bonginkosi Dlamini, was recently sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment alongside a co-accused for accepting bribes to weaken evidence in the murder case of Thulani Nxumalo, an ANC branch leader assassinated in KwaNdengezi.
According to the affidavit, Adams allegedly used his status as an MP to gain privileges he was not entitled to while interviewing awaiting-trial inmates implicated in high-profile political killings cases.
The state said Adams insisted on entering the prison with cellular phones despite being informed this violated correctional services regulations.
“He insisted to go in with the said cellular phones and cited that he was going to use them as part of his parliamentary duties. He even showed them his parliament identity card as proof of his official duties,” the affidavit stated.
Mavuka further alleged that Adams recorded and circulated the material on social media while Dlamini’s criminal trial was still under way.
The state also accused Adams of arranging police and metro police blue-light escorts from King Shaka International Airport to Westville Prison “at the cost of the state” after allegedly presenting himself as acting in an official parliamentary capacity.
Central to the state’s opposition to bail were allegations that Adams repeatedly attacked and undermined the PKTT.
“The applicant’s utterances and conduct indicates his resentment against the PKTT team. He has on numerous occasions made public comments that may be viewed as defamation of character against the PKTT team and people he perceives are linked to the PKTT team.”
During oral argument, co-prosecutor Zack Mata repeatedly referred to videos allegedly posted by Adams on social media while police were attempting to arrest him in Cape Town.
Mata referenced Adams comparing himself to the fugitive character portrayed by Harrison Ford in the film The Fugitive.
“He told everybody he can act better than Harrison Ford. He made fun of the South African Police Service and the criminal justice system,” Mata said.
He told the court Adams deliberately remained within parliamentary precincts because he believed police would not arrest him there.
“He calculated his moves to always be in the parliamentary precinct. That is where he was arrested. He confirms it. He is under the impression that they won’t touch me there,” Mata said.
The prosecutor further argued Adams had a history of disregarding court rulings, referring to an Equality Court matter involving the City of Cape Town manager.
“The Equality Court said, stop doing it, enrol in a course to deal with the problem, and he said, ‘No, I’m not going to do it’,” Mata said.
He accused Adams of showing blatant disrespect for the judiciary and law enforcement agencies.
“The state has established that he’s got a history of giving the courts middle fingers,” Mata said.
The state also argued Adams interfered with witnesses after allegedly contacting an individual connected to the investigation multiple times after learning police wanted to arrest him.
Meanwhile, Adams’ newly appointed attorney, Yuri Gangai, rejected the allegations and insisted his client acted within the lawful scope of parliamentary oversight functions.
“As a member of parliament and serving on the Portfolio Committee on Public Oversight, my engagement with matters of a policing and correctional services nature falls squarely within the purview of my parliamentary functions,” Adams said in an affidavit read in court.
“The visits to Westville Correctional Centre were conducted in this context and I did not misrepresent my identity or my status.”
Adams denied all five charges against him.
“I deny each and every allegation made against me in the strongest possible terms and plead not guilty to all five counts,” Adams’ affidavit stated.
The defence argued that MPs do not require specific parliamentary mandates for every oversight visit they conduct.
The matter will return to court on Friday morning for the state to conclude its reply before judgment in the bail application is delivered.
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