North West businessman and Suleiman Carrim finally appeared before the Madlanga Commission despite his efforts to have his testimony on camera.
Carrim appeared before the committee to explain his close ties with suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, Hangwani Morgan Maumela and businessman Brown Mokgotsi.
During his testimony Carrim told the Commission that he loaned Vusimuzi Matlala R10 million in a deal that was meant to bring back R20 million over three years.
Carrim told the Commission that his long-time associate Mogotsi misled and exploited him in connection with the cancelled R360 million Medicare24 tender for SAPS healthcare services.
Carrim claimed Mogotsi persuaded him into advancing funds to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and orchestrated a scheme involving false claims of influence.
Carrim said he loaned him about R10 million to Matlala’s Medicare24 around 2024, expecting repayment of R20million plus profits once payments has been made from the contract.
He claimed to have recovered only roughly R1.75 million, losing over R8 million after the tender was invalidated in 2025 due to irregularities.
He described Mogotsi as a North West friend he had financially supported for years, who assured the deal’s legitimacy through supposed political and insider connections.
Carrim testified that Mogotsi instructed him to send messages to Matlala falsely claiming a “good direct relationship” with Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to pressure Matlala into prioritizing repayments.
He initially called the idea a “joke” since he had no actual ties to Mchunu, but Mogotsi persuaded him by citing his CR17 campaign involvement and believed contacts.
Mogotsi drafted or dictated message content, with the understanding he would relay it to the minister for intervention on payments.
Carrim repeatedly stated that Mogotsi “played” him, along with Matlala, by fostering a false impression of his influence and access to payment information.
He told the Madlanga Commission that he advanced R500,000 to Hangwani Morgan Maumela, a figure linked to irregularities at Tembisa Hospital, after initially being asked for R750,000.
He said the request came from Matlala, who pressured him to make the payment with promises of quick reimbursement.
Carrim told the Madlanga Commission that he first met Maumela in February 2022.
Maumela, a South African businessman and tenderpreneur, has been implicated in a high-profile corruption investigation related to procurement at Tembisa Hospital.
According to Carrim, their initial meeting occurred when Maumela came to address issues with a house they had purchased from him, and their interaction during that visit eventually led to a friendship.
“How long have you been on first name terms with Mr Hangwani Morgan Maumela?” Madlanga Commission Evidence leader Chaskalson asked.
“Around about 2021 council, my son and myself were looking for a house in Johannesburg, we found an estate agent only to find this was Mr Maumela’s house,” said Carrim.
Earlier on the day evidence leader Chaskalson defended the inclusion of the documents, including a set of six pages served over the weekend, stating they “relate to issues in connection with Morgan Maumela” and would “play an important role” even if deemed irrelevant by the defense.
Chaskalson noted that Carrim’s team had “more than enough time” to review them and observed that “it’s clear Carrim doesn’t want to speak about Morgan Maumela.”
Commission Chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga queried whether Chaskalson anticipated objections during examination. Chaskalson responded that he would “deal with them as and when they come,” signaling preparedness for interruptions.
Carrim’s lawyers, countered that the inquiry is “not an adversarial proceeding” and emphasized that Carrim had not obstructed the commission. He attributed delays and consultation issues to the late provision of documents, describing it as unfair.
Bhana further argued that matters from Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probes—often tied to Maumela’s separate investigations into alleged corruption at Tembisa Hospital—fall outside the Madlanga Commission’s designated mandate, which focuses on criminality and political interference in the South African Police Service (SAPS) and criminal justice system. He urged strict adherence to the terms of reference to uphold principles of legality and fairness.
The exchanges occurred against the backdrop of Carrim’s scheduled testimony today, following prior postponements and dismissal of his application for in-camera (private) proceedings due to alleged death threats.
Maumela is accused by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) of leading a major syndicate in the Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal, allegedly orchestrated fraudulent procurement through over 40 linked shell companies, siphoning approximately R816 million (part of a broader R2 billion looting of public funds) between 2018 and 2023.