Madlanga Inquiry | Carrim refuses independent medical assessment

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has learned that North West businessman Suliman Carrim is refusing to participate in an independent medical examination. Commission Chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, however, asserts that the inquiry cannot simply accept Carrim's refusal. This is because the Commission cannot rely solely on a medical report from Carrim's personal doctor due to the doctor's close relationship with him.

The inquiry, currently taking place at Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria, is examining criminality, political influence, and corruption within South Africa's criminal justice system.

Previously, the Commission had mandated that Carrim must undergo an evaluation by a truly independent medical expert nominated by the relevant professional association, rather than by a doctor affiliated with him, to ensure an impartial assessment of his fitness to testify. Madlanga also cast doubt on the credibility of the medical evidence, pointing out that the doctor's explanations seemed to change after Carrim's visit to Cape Town, despite the doctor claiming he could not appear before the Commission.

He emphasizes, "From where we are sitting, we don’t consider Mr Carrim’s doctor to be an objective expert. He is an expert that’s closely associated with Mr Carrim and who, from where we are sitting, unless we get another opinion, appears to us to be pushing Mr Carrim’s story." Madlanga further states, "So very close to, if not analogous to, what courts have referred to as a hired gun in this sense.

If a court wants to get an objective view, it will want to get someone who is independent, as opposed to someone who is closely associated with the person concerned, and this is exactly what we have here, a medical specialist who has been treating Mr Carrim for this lengthy period."