Madlanga Commission welcomes judgement forcing NW businessman Carrim to appear

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has welcomed the Johannesburg High Court judgment against North West businessman Suliman Carrim, which will see him appear before the commission on Friday.

Earlier this week, Carrim lodged an urgent bid with the Johannesburg High Court to interdict the commission from subpoenaing him to appear before it.

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Evidence presented before the commission suggests that Carrim, a staunch African National Congress (ANC) backer, used his political pull to sway a R360 million South African Police Service (SAPS) contract in favour of alleged criminal kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

In handing down her judgment on Thursday morning, Judge Denise Fisher ordered that Carrim’s urgent interdict be struck off the roll, in that it related to “a self-creation of the urgency” rather than constituted a legitimate urgency as determined by the court.

The commission intends to probe Carrim’s relationships with the likes of Matlala, suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, and head of counterintelligence General Feroz Khan.

Evidence previously presented before the commission suggests that Carrim used his political connections to assist in influencing Matlala’s R360 million SAPS health services contract.

Carrim’s relationship with suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and Brown Mogotsi will also be investigated by the commission.