Madlanga Commission evidence leaders left puzzled after Carrim testimony

Evidence leaders at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry said they have been left with more questions than answers following the two-day testimony of controversial businessman Suleiman Carrim.

Carrim’s testimony has focused on the shady money transactions between him and controversial figures like Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, Hangwani Maumela and Brown Mogotsi.

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While Carrim has sought to distance himself from the characters, evidence presented at the commissions suggests otherwise.

Bank records presented at the Madlanga Commission show Carrim sent large sums of money to a company registered to the sister of Maumela.

Evidence leaders have suggested Carrim was helping Maumela circumvent a preservation order placed on his assets by the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

Carrim also told the commission he doesn’t have a relationship with Matlala; however, he loaned him R10 million without a signed contractual agreement.

Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson said Carrim’s story doesn’t add up.

“My first concern is with the numbers. Your version in the statement is a loan of R10 million; it turns out there were payments of R12,1 million. We need an explanation [of] where the extra R2,1 million comes from.

“My second concern [is] even on the version of the statement, what you have is a loan of R10 million to a relative stranger without any security, which seems commercially odd to me, to say the least. The loan is also without a written contract - that also seems commercially odd to me.”

Carrim will return to the commission on 16 April 2026.