Suliman Carrim Denies Money Laundering Claims At Madlanga Commission: “I Got Caught In The Web”

North West businessman Suliman Carrim has rejected claims that payments he facilitated between alleged crime figure Vusimuzi Matlala and businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela amounted to money laundering.

Testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Monday, Carrim insisted the transactions were tied to a business arrangement that ultimately collapsed.

The commission, chaired by retired Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations of criminal infiltration within the country’s justice system raised by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Carrim said his dealings with Matlala stemmed from a loan agreement that went wrong, costing him millions.

R10m loan and payments questioned by investigators

Carrim told the commission he lent Matlala R10 million in June 2024 to support a tender related to Matlala’s company Medicare24, which held a R360 million contract with the South African Police Service.

He said he did not receive any repayment until February 4, 2025, when Matlala transferred R1.5 million after receiving funds from the police.

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Shortly after the payment, Carrim sent Matlala a message saying “Morgan sorted”, referring to Maumela. Carrim’s company then transferred R500,000 to a business linked to Maumela and later paid another R250,000.

Carrim explained that Matlala had asked him to pass the money to Maumela because he was unable to send the payment directly.

“I had not done this with the intention of committing any fraud. I just got caught in a web of people. I was just doing my business as a businessman. Obviously I made a bad choice,” Carrim told the commission.

Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson said the payments could potentially be viewed as money laundering if the Medicare24 tender was later found to have been awarded fraudulently.

Suliman Carrim rejects claims of influence over police minister 

Carrim also faces allegations that he attempted to influence suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu to delay scrutiny of the Medicare24 contract.

WhatsApp messages presented to the commission showed Carrim telling Matlala he had contacted the minister regarding concerns about the contract review.

Carrim, however, told the commission that the message was originally sent to him by his friend Brown Mogotsi. He claimed Mogotsi suggested he forward the message to Matlala to create the impression he had political connections.

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Carrim said the tactic was meant to pressure Matlala to repay the money he owed.

“I was desperate and I needed to do it,” he said, insisting he had no relationship with the minister.

Mchunu previously told a parliamentary committee that he did receive the message requesting that the probe be delayed but said he never responded to it.

Carrim also addressed allegations that he had access to internal police documents, saying the material had been given to him by Mogotsi.

The businessman is expected to continue his testimony before the commission on Tuesday.