How Suliman Carrim could still face prosecution over money-laundering

When retired justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga proclaimed the “end of the road” for Suliman Carrim’s appearance before his commission, the North West province businessman’s legal team smiled.

They had just completed their brief, which resulted in an “ill-disposed” client avoiding the rigours of painstaking cross-examination that has seen others shed tears on the witness stand and implicate themselves in possible criminal cases.

Advocate Kameel Premhid, representing Carrim, accepted the “consequence” of Carrim not concluding his evidence would be that the commission will reach its findings without his evidence on some allegations against him.

“The commission and or evidence leaders will do what they do and we’ll deal with the consequences,” Premhid said.

Carrim’s was not “running away from accountability”; Premhid said his client’s absence at the commission was based on uncontested medical advice.

Though Carrim might be off the witness stand, which could be seen as a better option for him, such a reprieve could be short-lived.

If Carrim is convicted on the “lesser charge” of failing to appear before the commission, it could attract more trouble if a money-laundering charge is pursued against him, a legal expert told Business Day at the weekend.

Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga on Friday announced the commission secretary, Nolitha Vukuza, would lay a charge against Carrim for failing to appear before the commission due to ill health since April.

The case will be the first of its kind seeking the prosecution of a witness for failing to appear before a commission due to reported ill health.

Senior advocate Henk Roelofse told Business Day that, while less severe in sentencing terms, if he were convicted on the charge of failure to appear, it may have strategic significance should Carrim face criminal prosecution over his links to Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala and controversial businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela.

“A conviction would establish on the public record that Mr Carrim deliberately avoided giving evidence, which could be relevant to any future money-laundering prosecution as evidence of consciousness of guilt or an attempt to obstruct the commission’s investigation,” Roelofse said.

Carrim’s testimony before the commission was on his links to corruption-accused Matlala, who faces criminal charges in relation to the awarding of a R228m tender by the SAPS to his company, Medicare24.

Carrim testified that he lent Matlala R10m but denied any knowledge of, or playing any part in, alleged corruption regarding the controversial tender.

Bank records show Matlala paid Carrim R1.5m on February 4 2025 and on the same day Carrim’s company paid R500,000 to a company linked to Maumela and later paid R250,000.