Madlanga Commission to rule on Carrim's in-camera testimony request

After a full day of arguments, the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is set to rule on Monday on whether controversial businessman Suleiman Carrim will be permitted to testify behind closed doors.

Top cop Richard Shibiri was scheduled to make his second appearance on Friday.

However, the commission spent the day deliberating on Carrim's in-camera application.

Carrim is due to testify before the commission next Monday and Tuesday to respond to corruption allegations levelled against him.

Through his lawyers, Suliman Carrim has requested that his testimony be heard in private and conducted virtually from an undisclosed location.

Carrim submitted evidence to the commission of threatening messages he allegedly received from individuals attempting to prevent his testimony.

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His lawyer, Kameel Prehmid, argued that testifying in person and in an open session could place his client’s life, family, and business interests in danger.

“I think it’s also just important to say it out loud and on the record that two witnesses that have come before this commission have been killed,” Prehmid stated.

“One, allegedly killed himself (Wiandre Pretorius, who was never a witness at the commission but implicated by Witness D) by means of suicide, but did so after there was an attempt on their lives, and the other (Witness D, real name Marius van der Merwe) was apparently killed, potentially or allegedly, due to what they may or may not have done here.”

Prehmid later withdrew the remarks and apologised for suggesting the two deaths were a direct result of the Madlanga Commission’s proceedings.

Gauteng police have yet to make any arrests regarding the murder of Marius van der Merwe or the attempted hit on the late Wiandre Pretorius.