South Africa: Late Affidavit Puts Fadiel Adams Testimony On Hold

What the report says

South African lawmaker and National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams was due to appear before the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday, but his testimony may be delayed because commission evidence leaders received his sworn statement and supporting documents only late on Monday night. According to Scrolla, the team is expected to ask for more time to review the material before questioning him. The hearing is taking place in Johannesburg, and Adams had been subpoenaed to appear at 9:30 a.m.

The article says Adams is likely to face questions about prison visits, secret recordings, Crime Intelligence information and his interactions with police investigators. His appearance has drawn added attention because he is already facing criminal charges, including fraud and defeating the administration of justice, over alleged conduct at Westville Prison in KwaZulu-Natal. The state alleges he gained access by presenting himself as being on parliamentary business, then met prisoners linked to the 2017 killing of former ANC Youth League secretary Sindiso Magaqa and recorded some of them.

Scrolla reports that investigators believe information and recordings from those visits were later used in claims involving senior police officials, including Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo. Adams has said he is willing to answer questions and denies wrongdoing. The commission is also examining his allegations about misuse of Crime Intelligence funds and how police corruption complaints were handled by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption. The matter matters because it touches on possible links between politics, intelligence structures, policing and sensitive criminal investigations.