The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has reserved judgment on an application brought by North West businessman Suliman Carrim to postpone his upcoming testimony. Mr Carrim, who first appeared before the commission in April 2026, has requested the delay citing ongoing health issues following a heart attack.
Investigation And Challenges To Health Claims
Evidence leader Advocate Adila Hassim formally opposed the application, presenting evidence that suggests Mr Carrim is not as incapacitated as his medical records claim. The commission was presented with CCTV footage and geolocation data showing that Mr Carrim frequently leaves his medical facility, including visits to a Woolworths store and a Kauai eatery at a mall in Durbanville, Cape Town.
The analysis of the maps and the geolocation data and what they show is that almost every single day Mr. Carrim leaves the facility and that on most days he’s out of the facility for at least eight hours, sometimes longer.
Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga questioned the relevance of conflicting medical testimony in light of the physical evidence, stating he views the tracking data as objective facts that do not require medical interpretation. Commission chairperson Justice Madlanga further criticised Mr Carrim for failing to provide requested financial records and documentation regarding his business transactions.
Legal Defence And Commission Mandate
Representing Mr Carrim, Advocate Kameel Premhid argued that his client’s medical condition is dynamic and changes regularly. He proposed that the treating doctor account to the commission under oath every two weeks to provide updates on Mr Carrim’s capacity to testify.
But what the treating doctor says is that the position of my client is dynamic and it is subject to change, and that’s why one of the things that the treating doctor himself proposes is to account to the commission under oath once every two weeks to update the commission regarding the client’s position.
The Madlanga Commission, established by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July 2025, is investigating allegations of systemic corruption and political interference within the criminal justice system. Mr Carrim is a key figure of interest linked to a R360-million SAPS contract associated with alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala. The outcome of the postponement application remains pending while the commission seeks to secure his evidence in the face of ongoing procedural delays.