A tense exchange erupted at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry between its chairperson, Mbuyiseli Madlanga, and the legal team representing North West businessman Suliman Carrim.
The confrontation followed an application by Carrim’s lawyers requesting a postponement to review documents they said were relevant to the line of questioning during proceedings.
According to the legal team, additional time was needed to examine the material before continuing with the hearing. However, the commission’s evidence leader proposed a 45-minute adjournment, a suggestion that Carrim’s lawyers rejected.
Tensions escalated when the legal team implied that Madlanga had already made up his mind regarding the postponement request.
Madlanga strongly rejected the claim, saying the suggestion that he had prejudged the matter was inappropriate and unprofessional.
“I take very strong exception to that attitude. In fact, I find it unprofessional for you to say that I have prejudged issues purely because I’m engaging you. I take strong exception to that,” he said.
Senior counsel Rafik Bhana responded that he did not believe the chairperson should take exception, adding that his understanding was that the request for a postponement would not be allowed.
Madlanga denied making such a ruling and suggested the recording of the proceedings could be replayed to clarify the exchange.
“I did not say I am not going to allow it. We can play back the recording,” he said.
Bhana later acknowledged that he may have been mistaken. Madlanga, however, responded sharply, saying the implication that he had prejudged the matter was unacceptable.
The commission is continuing its hearings as it investigates matters related to its mandate.