By Marcus Moloko
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has heard evidence pointing to a tangled web of alleged corruption, possible money laundering, and irregular police tenders involving businessman Suliman Carrim, businessman and alleged underworld figure Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, and controversial businessman Hangwani Maumela.
Carrim, who is currently testifying before the commission, has denied receiving kickbacks from an irregular R360 million SAPS tender linked to one of Matlala’s companies.
Evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson has said that Carrim’s testimony and the financial transactions before the commission could justify further scrutiny for possible money laundering, as the inquiry continued probing a network of payments amounting to millions of rand between Carrim, Matlala, Brown Mogotsi and Maumela.
We look at the names that emerged during Carrim’s testimony this week, many of them overlapping with figures and allegations already before the commission.
Suliman Carrim
The ANC-linked North West businessman denied kickbacks but admitted investing R10 million into Matlala’s Medicare24 business. He said he was misled and left in the dark over the SAPS-linked tender, and has described himself as having been “played” by Matlala and Brown Mogotsi.
Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala
Matlala is accused of delaying repayment to Carrim and is repeatedly linked in the evidence to the SAPS tender and to senior police figures named elsewhere in the commission. Carrim’s testimony suggested Matlala used him to move money connected to their business dealings, an allegation Matlala has not tested in this part of the proceedings.
Brown Mogotsi
Mogotsi was named by Carrim as someone who knew of payments and dealings around Matlala before Carrim did. Carrim also said Mogotsi advised him to invoke the name of suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu to pressure Matlala into repaying him.
Hangwani Maumela
Maumela, who has been linked to the R2 billion Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal, was named in Carrim’s evidence as a recipient of a payment made at Matlala’s request.
Senzo Mchunu
Carrim denied having ties to suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu, but testified that Mogotsi suggested he use Mchunu’s name as leverage in his attempts to recover money from Matlala. That evidence stopped short of proving any direct relationship between Carrim and Mchunu, but it pulled the minister’s name back into the proceedings.
Advocate Kameel Premhid
Premhid is a controversial South African lawyer. Like the famous American defence lawyer Johnnie Cochran, Premhid brings a colourful, combative flair to legal proceedings. He is Carrim’s legal counsel and represented him before the commission during his evidence and procedural exchanges. He argued that Carrim’s testimony should be heard in camera due to death threats Carrim has received. Premhid also clashed with the commission secretary over seating arrangements. Commissioner Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga addressed the altercation, after which Advocate Matthew Chaskalson apologised to Premhid.
Dr Nolitha Vukuza
The commission secretary interacted with Premhid on procedural matters during Carrim’s appearance, butting heads over the commission’s procedures and the presentation of evidence against Carrim.
Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, Major-General Richard Shibiri, Major-General Feroz Khan, Major-General Lesetja Senona and Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo
These senior police officials have all surfaced at different points in the commission record around Matlala and his alleged network of influence. Khumalo, the head of Crime Intelligence, presented WhatsApp messages involving Matlala and Mogotsi that suggested attempts to use contacts and internal channels to deal with investigations affecting Matlala. Senona has also faced questions before the commission over his association with Matlala.
Julius Mkhwanazi
The suspended deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department remains a central figure in the commission. His scheduled return to the witness stand was postponed to 23 March after the commission was told he had undergone eye surgery and that his legal representative needed more time to prepare.
Mkhwanazi admitted to receiving over R70,000 from Matlala, which he initially downplayed but later framed as “support between brothers”.
Mkhwanazi has also faced separate allegations before the commission relating to the registration of private vehicles owned by Matlala as municipal vehicles and the use of emergency blue lights, allegations he has denied. He has also been named as being part of a police and metro police group that allegedly covered up the torture and extrajudicial killing of Emmanuel Mbhense.
Michael van Wyk
Van Wyk was identified in Carrim’s testimony as the man Carrim met during a visit to a “state-of-the-art” Medicare24 facility in Pretoria. Carrim said Van Wyk explained that Matlala was operating as a franchisee of Medicare24. The meeting took place while Carrim was considering funding Matlala to execute the SAPS medical services contract.