CAPE TOWN - Fadiel Adams was “requested” to look into the murder of slain ANCYL leader Sindiso Magaqa, according to his lawyer, Bruce Hendricks.
Adams was arrested on Tuesday in Cape Town and faces charges of fraud and defeating the ends of justice.
He is accused of accessing a Port Shepstone correctional facility under the guise of a parliamentary mandate, where he allegedly visited Magaqa’s accused killer.
Hendricks says the visit was lawful and within the scope of the law.
Speaking to eNCA, Adams confirmed that he did not have a Parliamentary mandate to visit the correctional facility.
He also said he did not have a police escort to the facility, and accused SAPS of being “killers”, stating instead that he was escorted by metro police.
He further claimed the man he visited was prepared to reveal the truth about the murder and alleged involvement of police and senior officials within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
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KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi exposed Adams at the Madlanga Commission, accusing him of interfering with police work.
At Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, he told MPs that a case had been opened against the National Coloured Congress (NCC) leader and Member of Parliament.
Hendricks declined to say who requested Adams to look into Magaqa’s murder, saying the matter will be fully ventilated in court.
Following Mkhwanazi’s allegations, Adams has expressed his intention to appear before the Madlanga Commission to clear his name.
He has been accused of mishandling sensitive crime intelligence information. Mkhwanazi said the classified material Adams shared is restricted to vetted members of Parliament’s intelligence committee with security clearance.
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Adams has dismissed the claims, saying the information “landed on his doorstep” and that his intention was to expose wrongdoing.
He has also opened a criminal case against suspended National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, accusing him of nepotism within SAPS.
The case follows earlier complaints he laid against Mkhwanazi for perjury, linked to allegations about the handling of sensitive information.
According to Hendricks, Adams had written to the National Police Commissioner and Mkhwanazi to confirm whether a warrant for his arrest had been issued, but received no response.
However, police allegedly raided accommodation believed to be linked to him over the weekend. Adams has labelled the action intimidation and unlawful, and has since opened a case of intimidation against the police.
On Sunday, he also alleged that police attempted to arrest him inside Parliament but were prevented by the presence of the media.
READ: KZN police mum on Fadiel Adams intimidation allegations
He said he was not afraid of arrest. On Tuesday, police issued a statement instructing Adams to hand himself over after failing to locate him.
He was subsequently arrested at the Parliamentary Village in Cape Town and is being transported to KwaZulu-Natal.
READ: MP Fadiel Adams claims police wanted to arrest him in Parliament
"We have a team of lawyers in KZN waiting at the police station," says Hendricks.
After being formally charged, Adams is expected to appear in court.