Carrim’s legal team requested a postponement of his testimony at the Madlanga Commission after investigators uncovered evidence of two additional payments to Medicare24 that he had not disclosed.

Carrim’s legal team requested that they be given some time to go through the cash transactions documents between Carrim, controversial businessman Vusi “Cat” Matlala and Hangwani Morgan Maumela for a stand down until 12:00 to prepare the application.

Evidence leader revealed that Carrim received over R332-Million in municipal payments to his companies while withholding R2.12 million in undisclosed transfers from Tasmika Construction to Medicare24.

Evidence leaders at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry confronted North Carrim over late-disclosed bank statements and payments involving his companies Tasmika Construction and Medicare24.

 The challenge arose during cross-examination on Tuesday, as Advocate Matthew Chaskalson pressed Carrim on why key transactions were not mentioned in his witness statement on Monday.

The core dispute centered on two large payments from Tasmika Construction into Medicare24, R1 million on June 27, 2024, and R1.12 million on October 7, 2024, totaling over R2 million beyond previously disclosed amounts.

Evidence leaders discovered these while reviewing Medicare24 bank statements on Monday evening and informed the Commission on Tuesday morning, to verify SAPS inflows and Carrim’s claimed waiver of 10% entitlements under a loan agreement.

Counsel provided Carrim’s team with four months of bank statements for Tasmika Construction and Medicare24, arguing the delay stemmed from Carrim’s late statement filing due Wednesday instead of the prior week and his failure to disclose the payments or his access to the accounts.

They noted any of these issues would have allowed earlier sharing. An electronic spreadsheet with detailed municipal payments to Carrim-linked companies was emailed the day before, but only an infographic summary on page 505 (served Friday) was to be referenced.

The infographic summarized payments from municipalities where Carrim serves as ANC treasurer totaling around R332 million to R336 million to his companies, with the full spreadsheet offered for verification only.

Counsel emphasized no line items would be used in proceedings, allowing Carrim to check totals or dispute entries independently.

Hundreds of pages brandished by Advocate Rafik Bhana were dismissed as irrelevant beyond the summary.

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Carrim’s application has sparked a major controversy ahead of his scheduled testimony before the Commission.

His legal team argues that appearing in a public hearing could place his life at risk. They maintain that Carrim and his family have been subjected to threats, forcing him to spend significant amounts of money on private security.

However, the Commission has disputed claims that Carrim was left without protection.

During proceedings, evidence leader Advocate Adila Hassim told the Commission that Carrim had previously been offered protection services but declined them.

Hassim raised the issue in response to Carrim’s claim that he has had to cover the costs of private security himself due to safety concerns.

Carrim’s lawyer, Advocate Kameel Premhid, argued that the request for in-camera proceedings is based on ongoing threats against Carrim and his family. According to Premhid, these threats include warnings that Carrim’s businesses could be burned down and that his family could be tracked even if they relocate.

The legal team told the Commission that the threats have created a serious risk to Carrim’s safety should his testimony take place in a public hearing.

Carrim is not new to controversy and has been linked to several allegations connected to a cancelled R360 million South African Police Service (SAPS) tender.

He is accused of receiving R1.5 million from controversial businessman Vusimuzi Matlala, who has been linked to the tender scandal.

Carrim has also been associated with suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, with reports of WhatsApp messages exchanged between Mchunu, Matlala and Carrim emerging during the course of investigations.

Carrim’s legal team had previously challenged the subpoena issued by the Commission in court but lost the case. They later secured a postponement of his appearance from an earlier date to 9 and 10 March, citing the need for additional preparation time.

On Friday, Carrim’s lawyers filed an interlocutory application requesting that his testimony be heard privately.

During the hearing, Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseni Madlanga expressed concern about the wording used in Carrim’s affidavit. Madlanga said the language appeared to suggest that the Commission had been responsible for the deaths of witnesses.

The Commissioner described this suggestion as serious and inappropriate, especially given the sensitive context of previous witness deaths linked to investigations, including Witness D and Wiandre Pretorius.

Madlanga also noted that previous applications for in-camera testimony had been dealt with openly and questioned what made Carrim’s situation different enough to justify secrecy.

He indicated that the Commission would need to carefully consider whether the application meets the legal threshold for private proceedings.

Evidence leader Sesi Baloyi also opposed Carrim’s request, arguing that he had not provided sufficient grounds to justify testifying behind closed doors.

Baloyi further argued that keeping the alleged threats confidential could prevent full public disclosure and undermine transparency in the Commission’s work.

She added that the application may have already been compromised by information that has entered the public domain.

The Commission is expected to release its written ruling on Monday, which will determine whether Carrim will testify in a public hearing or behind closed doors when he appears before the Madlanga Commission.

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