South Africa - Pretoria - 08 March 2026. The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry witness North West Businessman Suliman Carrim testifies at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
North West businessman Suliman Carrim is expected to face tough cross-examination as the Madlanga Commission probe payments linked to alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and controversial businessman Hangwani Maumela.
Carrim’s testimony on Monday thrust him into the centre of the commission’s inquiry after he admitted transferring R500,000 to Maumela at Matlala’s request, money drawn from a R1.2 million payment Matlala had made to settle a six-month debt.
Carrim told the commission Matlala initially instructed him to pay Maumela R750,000.
He said he refused the full amount and negotiated it down to R500,000, claiming Matlala promised to “top him up” once additional invoices owed to Matlala were paid.
“I said I can’t do R750,000. We agreed on R500,000 because there were still invoices coming,” Carrim testified.
The businessman acknowledged that he made the payment despite having little knowledge of the underlying agreements between Matlala and Maumela, a decision that drew sharp questioning from the commission.
Co-commissioner Sesi Baloyi pressed Carrim on why he would transfer such a substantial sum without verifying the legitimacy of the arrangement.
Carrim maintained he believed the transaction was part of a legitimate business deal.
“I was just doing business. I saw the opportunity and I took it,” he said. “I didn’t know these people were involved in anything wrong.”
His return to the witness stand on Tuesday is expected to test those claims, as evidence leaders prepare to interrogate the circumstances surrounding the payment and Carrim’s alleged links to Matlala and Maumela.
Proceedings resume at 9:30am in Pretoria.
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