North West businessman Suleiman Carrim, who serves as the ANC’s regional treasurer for the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, has come under intense scrutiny at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry following revelations that companies linked to him received over R300 million in payments from struggling municipalities in the district.
The payments, totaling approximately R332 million to R336 million according to evidence presented, were disclosed on Tuesday by the commission’s chief evidence leader, Matthew Chaskalson. An infographic shown during proceedings detailed the breakdown of these funds flowing from municipalities in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District — which includes five local municipalities, among them Ditsobotla — to companies owned by Carrim.
The district has faced significant governance challenges, with Ditsobotla Municipality placed under administration nine times since 2008. Broader provincial context highlights that around 10 of the 18 local municipalities in North West were reported to be under administration or in severe financial distress between 2025 and early 2026. North West currently holds the highest unemployment rate in South Africa.
These disclosures form part of ongoing testimony related to Carrim’s alleged involvement in various financial dealings, including connections to an irregular SAPS health services tender worth around R360 million awarded to suspected crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala‘s company, Medicare24. Chaskalson highlighted an additional unexplained R2 million paid from one of Carrim’s construction companies to Matlala’s Medicare24, concluding that the transaction pointed to a partnership involving Carrim, tenderpreneur Hangwani Maumela, and Matlala in the SAPS contract.
Carrim’s appearance before the commission on Tuesday was marked by confrontations. Chaskalson and Commissioner Baloi accused him of not being fully forthcoming and of withholding information, including details about his relationship with Medicare24. Chaskalson stated that Carrim “knows something else… and he chooses to hold it back,” describing this as unhelpful to the inquiry.
Tensions escalated further when Carrim’s lawyer, Advocate Rafik Bhana, suggested that retired Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, the commission chairperson, had prejudged the matter amid a request to postpone proceedings due to late receipt of new files. The chairperson strongly rebuked the comment, taking “very strong exception” to the attitude and stating that engaging counsel had nothing to do with prejudgment. Bhana retracted the statement and offered an unreserved apology.
Carrim struggled to explain the additional R2 million transaction during questioning, contributing to the confrontational atmosphere.
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is examining criminality, political interference, and corruption within the criminal justice system.
Carrim’s testimony is scheduled to continue on April 16. Separately, suspended organized crime head Richard Shibiri was set to testify the following day after Tuesday’s proceedings.