NCC's Fadiel Adams arrested for fraud, defeating the ends of justice
NCC leader Fadiel Adams climbs into a police van after his arrest for fraud and defeating the course of justice.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
National Coloured Congress (NCC) leader Fadiel Adams has been arrested in connection with charges of fraud and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
But in a twist on Tuesday afternoon, Adams said he approached the SA Police Service (SAPS), through his lawyers, informing them he was willing to hand himself over.
This comes after the SAPS on Tuesday said Adams needed to present himself at his nearest police station in connection with the charges.
National police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, said officers were in possession of a J50 warrant for Adams’s arrest.
“The warrant relates to serious allegations that he interfered with ongoing investigations into the murder of the late ANC Youth League leader, Mr Sindiso Magaqa,” Mathe said.
She said investigators had found that Adams allegedly interfered with a convicted hitman at a sensitive and advanced stage of the probe.
Mathe said police had made extensive efforts to locate Adams, including visiting multiple addresses linked to him.
But Adams said he approached the SAPS.
NCC leader Fadiel Adams in the back of a police van.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
"They apparently have been looking for me since last week. They have my email, they have my residential address at Parliament.
"They've never approached me because they wanted to arrest me for drama, they wanted a dramatic effect. They never got it.
"We approached the SAPS through my lawyers and said we are willing to hand ourselves over, but what are you charging me with? They wouldn't disclose any information.
"We asked, which court do you plan to take me to? They wouldn't disclose simple information.
"On this basis we went to the Cape High Court and the court gave an order that the SAPS must disclose all of the information.
"Now what we know, for a fact, is there is nothing in that docket because I've done nothing wrong.
"This is intimidation.
"Intimidation by the head of the PKTT (Political Killings Task Team), general Dumisani Khumalo.
"The PKTT is headed by an alleged criminal, who I put before the dock.
"I laid those charges.
"Now this man is using his unit and his resources to intimidate me. It's that simple."
At the weekend, Adams alleged that about 15 task team members stormed a house in Westridge on Saturday in search of him.
He claimed officers did not produce a search or arrest warrant and alleged they pointed rifles at a woman, assaulted a 12-year-old boy and traumatised a family while searching the wrong property.
Adams said he had sold the property a few weeks earlier and no longer lived there.
“With a budget of hundreds of millions of rand a year, this corrupt unit cannot even get an address right,” he said, adding that an innocent teacher had rifles pointed at her and her husband was forced to lie on the ground.
He said he had opened a case of intimidation against SAPS.