Madlanga Commission | Carrim claims he paid over R40m to businessman linked to Tembisa Hospital Scandal

The Madlanga Commission has heard evidence suggesting that controversial North West businessman, Suleiman Carrim, chanelled close to R47 million to businessman, Hangwani Morgan Maumela.

Carrim testified before the commission on Monday, that the funds were transferred through Luthaga Trading Enterprise, a company owned by Maumela’s sister.

He told the commission that while he and Maumela developed a friendship, they also entered into business discussions related to the mining industry.

Maumela, who has been implicated in alleged corruption linked to Tembisa Hospital, is also alleged to have been part of a tender-rigging syndicate operating at the hospital alongside Carrim and alleged underworld figure, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

The Special Investigating Unit has since uncovered three coordinated syndicates believed to be responsible for looting more than R2 billion intended for healthcare services at the facility.

Carrim said he first became aware of Maumela in 2021, when he purchased a house in Johannesburg through an estate agency that had previously sold him Maumela’s property. He claimed he only met the president’s nephew in person in 2022, after raising concerns about the house’s entertainment system.

Records presented before the commission revealed that between December 2023 and November 2024, more than R42.4 million was paid to Luthaga Trading Enterprise.

Further records show an additional R3.25 million was transferred between August 2024 and March 2025.

Carrim told the commission that the payments were linked to a proposed chrome mining venture.

The commission also heard that during the period of these payments, alleged underworld kingpin, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala communicated with Carrim and allegedly instructed him to make payments to Maumela, instructions Carrim says he followed without objection.

Maumela previously made headlines after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) seized his assets in October, reportedly linked to irregular gains associated with the Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal.

Carrim also told the commission that he provided R10 million to Matlala’s company, Medicare24, after Matlala approached him for funding linked to a contract with the South African Police Service (SAPS).

He said he first received a call from Matlala in June 2024 requesting a meeting.

The businesaman told the commission that he knew Matlala through the private security industry, but had no prior business dealings with him.

“Prior to this, to the best of my recollection, I had no engagements, relationships or dealings with Vusimuzi Matlala beyond knowing in a general sense who he was,” Carrim said.

Carrim testified that during the meeting he learned Matlala required funding to execute a contract after allegedly overcapitalising during the establishment of the tender.

He said he later visited the Medicare24 facility in Pretoria, which he described as “state-of-the-art”, where he met CEO Michael van Wyk and learned that Matlala was operating as a franchisee.

Carrim said he sought verification of the SAPS contract from controversial businessman, Brown Mogotsi, whom he described as a friend.

Carrim testified that Matlala agreed to repay the R10 million loan over three years starting in 2024, but he only began receiving repayments in February 2025, amounting to R1.7 million.

He said Matlala later claimed that the SAPS Medicare24 contract had been cancelled.

Carrim further admitted that he falsely claimed to have connections to suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, saying he did so on Mogotsi’s advice in an attempt to pressure Matlala into repaying the loan.

He maintained that he has no relationship with Mchunu, and that any messages allegedly coming from the minister were relayed to him by Mogotsi.

“He said to me he has spoken to the minister and than he will come back to me on details. When he advised me he said in order to obtain my money from Vusi and get more payments, I should continue talking to Vusi and keeping him close to me. I called Mogotsi and he told me he will inform me in due coarse,” Carrim said.

He added that he regularly followed up with Mogotsi about the matter, and was reassured not to worry as the plan would eventually work.

Meanwhile, suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy police chief Julius Mkhwanazi has requested a further postponement of his testimony until 23 March.

Mkhwanazi briefly appeared before the commission on Monday with his new legal representative to formally apply for the delay.

His attorney, Advocate Nkosana Khumalo, told the commission he had only recently met with his client and required additional time to prepare for the testimony.

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has granted the Madlanga Commission an extension to complete its work, pushing the deadline for its final report to 31 August 2026.

The inquiry had initially been expected to submit its final report by 17 March. However, the Presidency confirmed that the deadline was extended following a request from the commission, which indicated that several key witnesses still have to testify.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao