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Madlanga Commission lays criminal charges against Suliman Carrim after repeated failure to appear
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has confirmed that criminal charges have been laid against North West businessman Suliman Carrim after he repeatedly failed to comply with an order requiring him to appear and testify before the inquiry.
Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed on Monday that the charges were laid last week, following an instruction from commission chairperson retired Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
The development marks a significant escalation in the commission’s long-running efforts to secure Carrim’s further testimony.
Charges laid after repeated non-compliance
Michaels said the commission’s secretary, Dr Nolitha Vukuza, had formally laid the criminal charges on behalf of the inquiry.
“Justice Madlanga had instructed the secretary of the commission to lay criminal charges against Mr Suleyman Karim. And indeed, that has been done,” Michaels said.
“The criminal charges have been laid against Mr Karim by the commission, by the secretary, on behalf of the commission. And that matter is now in the hands of the commission’s recommendations task team, the CRTT.”
The charges follow a series of disputes over Carrim’s failure to return to the witness stand after previously giving evidence before the commission.
The official commission record shows that on 14 August, Carrim did not appear despite an earlier ruling ordering him to attend in person. The commission had also given him an alternative – to undergo an independent medical examination by an agreed specialist and provide the resulting report to the commission.
He did neither.
A prolonged dispute over Carrim’s health
Carrim’s appearances before the commission have been repeatedly disrupted by claims of ill health.
His testimony was postponed in April after he was reportedly hospitalised following an alleged heart attack. By May, there was still uncertainty over when he would return to the commission.
The commission subsequently became increasingly dissatisfied with the repeated postponements.
In June, Carrim was effectively given a final opportunity to complete his testimony, with the commission indicating that failure to appear or undergo an independent medical assessment could result in prosecution.
On 29 July, Justice Madlanga dismissed Carrim’s application to indefinitely delay his testimony on medical grounds and ordered him to appear in person. The ruling also provided for an independent medical assessment as an alternative.
When Carrim did not comply, the commission moved towards criminal proceedings.
At the 14 August hearing, Madlanga said the commission could not allow witnesses to decide for themselves whether they would comply with subpoenas and orders.
“This is something that the commission has to do otherwise witnesses will choose to come or not to come testify before it willingly; we cannot, and we will not, have that,” Madlanga said.
Why Carrim’s evidence matters
Carrim is not an incidental figure in the commission’s investigation.
He previously gave evidence concerning his business and financial dealings with individuals whose activities have come under scrutiny during the inquiry, including controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Carrim told the commission that he had lent Matlala money and denied knowledge of, or involvement in, alleged corruption surrounding a controversial South African Police Service tender.
Matlala himself has emerged as a central figure in the commission’s investigation into allegations surrounding policing, political influence, business interests and corruption.
The commission’s official record also notes a significant discrepancy between the amounts Carrim and Matlala gave in relation to one loan. Carrim testified that the loan was R10 million, while Matlala later told the commission that the amount was R15 million.
Carrim has also been linked through evidence before the commission to other businessmen and transactions that have attracted scrutiny. Importantly, evidence heard by the commission constitutes testimony and allegations being investigated and does not, by itself, amount to a criminal finding against Carrim.
Commission says the law must be enforced
The decision to lay charges is also about the authority of the commission itself.
Michaels previously explained that Carrim had been ordered to appear in person unless he complied with the alternative medical-assessment arrangement.
“Given that Mr Carrim did not comply with the ruling, Justice Madlanga on Friday instructed the secretary of the commission, Dr Nolitha Vukuza, to lay criminal charges against Mr Carrim,” Michaels said.
He said the matter would be referred to the appropriate authorities for investigation and possible prosecution in relation to alleged contraventions of the Commissions Act and the regulations governing the inquiry.
“The Commissions Act, as well as the regulations of this commission, make it an offence to wilfully hinder or obstruct the work of the commission,” Michaels said.
“Persons found guilty of such conduct face penalties including a fine and/or imprisonment.”
The laying of charges is therefore separate from the substantive allegations being investigated by the commission. Carrim has not been convicted of an offence arising from the new criminal case.
What happens next
The criminal matter has now been handed to the commission’s recommendations task team, with Michaels confirming that the process has moved beyond the commission’s internal decision to lay the charges.
The development comes as the Madlanga Commission enters a crucial phase of its work.
The commission, established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations concerning criminality, political interference and corruption within the criminal justice system, has already heard evidence implicating senior political, police and business figures.
Its work has been extended, with the evidence deadline set for 2 October 2026 and the final report due on 16 November 2026.
For Carrim, the criminal case now creates a separate legal process from his involvement as a witness before the inquiry.
For the commission, however, the message is broader: being summoned to give evidence is not voluntary, and repeated failure to comply with an order can have consequences.
The charges also underline the increasingly combative nature of the final stages of the inquiry, as the commission attempts to complete its work while dealing with witnesses who have challenged, delayed or failed to comply with its orders.
Economy
Kimberley’s Benjie makes history with MasterChef SA win and R1 million prize
Andrew “Benjie” Benjamin has cooked his way into South African television history after being crowned the winner of MasterChef South Africa Season 6.
The 40-year-old home cook from Kimberley in the Northern Cape beat Durban finalist Candice Meth in the tense finale on Sunday, 16 August, walking away with the coveted title and a R1 million cash prize. His victory also made him the first contestant from the Northern Cape to win the competition.
For Benjie, the achievement was about far more than winning a reality television competition.
“I thought I wouldn’t even make it past episode two,” he admitted, crediting his wife for encouraging him to remain in the competition and take it “one episode at a time”.
He said the victory was particularly meaningful because of what it could represent for his family and people from his home province.
“There was a time when I thought that I wouldn’t make it even past episode two,” Benjamin said. “My wife encouraged me to stay on there.”
From high-voltage lines to the MasterChef kitchen
Benjie’s journey is unusual because cooking is not his full-time profession.
The Kimberley-born contestant works in high-voltage electrical line maintenance, dealing with hazardous electricity transmission lines, while cooking has remained a passion outside his day job.
He entered the competition alongside 19 other home cooks and quickly established himself as one of the contestants to watch.
Benjie earned his first Dish of the Day in only the second episode and went on to win seven challenges before reaching the final. One of those victories gave him a valuable 10-minute advantage for the final cook.
Throughout the competition, judges and fellow contestants affectionately nicknamed him “Benjie Baby”.
His playful approach to food also became part of his identity on the show. One of his standout creations was a sophisticated take on two-minute noodles, which he transformed into “Crêpes Suzette Benjette”.
Judge Chef Katlego Mlambo reportedly named it her favourite Benjie dish of the season, while a lamb pie also impressed London-based guest judge Chef Nokx Majozi.
A high-pressure finale
The final challenge saw Benjie go head-to-head with 39-year-old Candice Meth in a two-hour cook-off.
The finalists were tasked with creating a three-course meal that reflected their journeys throughout the competition.
Benjie prepared pan-fried salmon with leeks and white wine sauce as his starter, followed by pork belly with fennel and apple purées, mushy peas and red wine jus.
For dessert, he served meringue, vanilla sponge cake, raspberry coulis, chocolate crème pâtissière and vanilla ice cream.
The pressure was intense, particularly when his decision to bake the apples to intensify their flavour cost him precious time.
But he managed to complete his menu before the clock ran out.
Judges impressed by his final menu
Benjie had already been regarded as a strong contender, but his final performance ultimately convinced the judges that he deserved the title.
Ahead of the final cook, judge Justine Drake described him as a “dark horse”, while Zola Nene called him “laser-focused”.
His final dishes continued to impress.
The judges praised the execution of his salmon, while his pork belly stood out for its balance of flavours.
Nene went as far as describing the main course as something that could be seen “in a fine-dining restaurant”.
That combination of technical ability, creativity and composure ultimately gave Benjie the edge over Meth.
A victory for the Northern Cape
Benjie’s win has also become a source of pride for the Northern Cape, shining a spotlight on the province’s food traditions and homegrown culinary talent.
The new champion hopes his journey will encourage other people from the province to believe in their own abilities.
“We can make great food and compete with the best in the rest of the country,” he said.
He pointed to the diversity of the province, mentioning communities including Roodepan, Springbok, De Aar, Kuruman and the Kalahari as places with their own flavours and cooking traditions.
“Hopefully, my journey gives people the confidence to express themselves in the kitchen, too,” he said.
What’s next for Benjie?
Despite winning R1 million and becoming South Africa’s newest MasterChef, Benjie is not rushing to abandon his career.
He has said he still loves his day job and believes there is room for both his electrical work and his passion for cooking.
“I still love my day job, but there’s a place for both the job and cooking in my life,” he said.
As for his prize money, Benjie has more grounded plans. He wants to make renovations at home and spoil the family members who supported him throughout his journey.
He has also hinted at exploring his love for noodles further, with the possibility of a cookbook centred on the versatile ingredient.
For now, however, Benjie Baby can savour a remarkable achievement – a home cook from Kimberley has conquered one of South Africa’s biggest culinary competitions and brought the MasterChef crown to the Northern Cape for the first time.
MasterChef SA Season 6 in context
The sixth season of MasterChef South Africa premiered in February 2026 and concluded on 16 August after 26 episodes. The competition is built around amateur cooks competing in a series of culinary challenges, with contestants judged on their technical skills, creativity and ability to perform under pressure.
Benjie’s victory therefore represents the culmination of months of competition – and a major milestone for a contestant who entered the kitchen as a passionate home cook and left as South Africa’s latest MasterChef champion.
