An ANC regional treasurer and businessman, Sulliman Carrim, says he fears for his life after receiving death threats ahead of his scheduled testimony before the Madlanga Commission.
Carrim is expected to appear before the commission on Monday. On Friday, his legal team submitted an urgent application requesting that his evidence be heard in camera — a closed hearing not accessible to the public or media — citing serious safety concerns.
Advocate Kameel Premhid, representing Carrim, told the commission the request was motivated by what he described as alarming developments surrounding individuals linked to the inquiry.
“I think it is important to state on the record that two witnesses associated with this commission have been killed,” Premhid said. He added that one individual reportedly took their own life after surviving an earlier attempt on their life, while another was allegedly killed in connection with matters under investigation by the commission.
According to Premhid, these incidents highlight the gravity of the commission’s work, which he said involves issues tied to the criminal justice system, possible abuse of political connections, and alleged criminal influence.
“When witnesses are dying after giving evidence, it is not unreasonable for my client to seek every legal remedy available to protect himself,” Premhid told the inquiry.
He further stated that the threats against Carrim appear to be linked simply to the fact that he has been called to testify.
“My client is being subjected to these threats regardless of the actual evidence he will give,” Premhid said. He argued that public debate about whether Carrim should testify privately has already exposed the threats he faces.
Premhid also claimed Carrim has been placed under surveillance and warned that the visibility of these concerns on live television undermines the purpose of an in-camera hearing intended to safeguard his testimony.
However, the commission’s evidence leader, Advocate Adila Hassim, strongly opposed the application.
Hassim argued that limiting broadcasting would have little practical impact on public access to the proceedings.
“Even if the proceedings were to not be televised or streamed on any other platform, they would still be open to the public and open to the media,” she said in her submission.
The commission adjourned proceedings on Friday and is expected to rule on Carrim’s application when hearings resume on Monday.