By Johnathan Paoli
Chief evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson has accused North West businessman Sulieman Carrim of operating as an investing partner in a three-way enterprise with Hangwani Morgan Maumela and Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, suggesting their financial dealings point to possible money laundering and mutual funding of each other’s interests.
Putting the allegation directly to Carrim at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday, Chaskalson said the pattern of payments, shared communications and overlapping business interests indicated far more than an arm’s-length lending relationship.
“Maumela gets paid out of your payments from Mr Matlala. It effectively enabled you to support each other’s potentially unlawful conduct. All of these elements in my view cast doubt on the correctness of the truth of your version of the loan,” Chaskalson said.
This follow Carrim’s testimony revealed he advanced R500,000 to Maumela at Matlala’s request and later paid a further R250,000 after receiving R1 million from Medicare24, despite not being reimbursed for the first payment.
Financial flows formed a major focus of questioning, with Carrim admitting paying R750,000 to Maumela following Matlala’s requests.
“Matlala ‘forced’ and ‘insisted’ that I make the payment. I was afraid to not comply with the instructions,” he said.
He said Maumela told him the arrangement came from Matlala and that according to him, the payment will come from Carrim.
Loan payments to Matlala’s company, Medicare24, drew further scrutiny.
Carrim said he had approved a R10 million loan, but bank records showed payments totalling R12.12 million from his companies.
“I didn’t authorise these payments. When I woke up from my morning prayers, my attorney alerted me about this,” Carrim said.
He accepted that if funds left his accounts without approval, it amounted to “criminal misappropriation”.
Chaskalson said the arrangement appeared commercially irregular, adding that Carrim’s companies provided accounting support, held finance committee representation and agreed to forego loan rights, conduct “much more akin to a partnering investor than a lender”.
Carrim maintained he was telling the truth and denied meeting Mogotsi with Maumela after the tender, despite Mogotsi contacting the commission to claim otherwise.
Commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga pressed Carrim on why he proceeded despite finding the arrangement suspicious.
Carrim conceded that it may have been suspicious, but said he feared jeopardising further payments Matlala owed him.
Madlanga questioned why the money was not paid directly.
“According to him (Maumela), that was the instruction from Matlala,” Carrim said.
Chaskalson said the structure resembled conduit payments between the men, with Carrim disputing this but agreed he had transferred the funds.
The commission also examined Carrim’s funding of litigation by Brown Mogotsi’s foundation challenging a North West health tender.
Carrim said he supported the case to protect local businesses and denied involvement in the litigation.
However, Chaskalson pointed out that one of Maumela’s companies had been a losing bidder in the same tender.
Chaskalson said he found it difficult to believe, noting Carrim funded the interdict in August and September 2023 while simultaneously forming a R50 million chrome mining joint venture with Maumela and having purchased his house in 2022.
He asked Carrim about the flow of money and information suggested a coordinated enterprise, who firmly rejected the allegation.
When asked on WhatsApp exchanges showing Matlala repeatedly forwarding screenshots of his conversations with Carrim to Maumela, Carrim maintained no knowledge of the exchange.
“I have no idea. It’s the first time I’m seeing this. I don’t know why I would take my chats and pass them over to Mr Maumela,” he said.
Chaskalson highlighted messages from 18 March 2025 showing Matlala again sending screenshots to Maumela.
On the same day, Maumela sent visitor access codes for Zimbali Estate to Matlala, which was later forwarded to former police minister Bheki Cele, who used it to enter the estate.
Carrim denied knowledge of any meeting between Cele and Matlala, but evidence did show that he had scheduled a call with Matlala at noon that day.
“The planned call had nothing to do with Mr Cele,” Carrim said.
Proceedings adjourned for the day with Carrim expected to return on 16 April.
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