NCC supporters voice concerns after Fadiel Adams' arrest
Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams was arrested on Tuesday, facing serious allegations of fraud and defeating the ends of justice.
Image: Photographer Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Media
Fadiel Adams, leader of the National Coloured Congress (NCC), displayed composure despite his anxiety during his arrest outside his home in the Parliamentary village.
When asked how he felt about sitting in the back of the police van, Adams replied: “I probably needed a holiday anyway.”
Adams is expected to appear in court in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday morning, after his arrest was livestreamed and aired across the country on Tuesday.
Adams was arrested after a statement by the South African Police Service (SAPS) was circulated detailing how the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) wanted Adams to present himself at his nearest police station in connection with a case of fraud and defeating and or obstructing the course of justice.
SAPS had a warrant for his arrest relating to allegations that he interfered with ongoing investigations into the murder of the late ANC Youth League Leader, Sindiso Magaqa.
Police claimed that through investigations, the PKTT team discovered that Adams interfered with the now convicted and sentenced hitman at a very sensitive and advanced stage of the police's investigation.
SAPS said that Adams was scheduled to appear before a KwaZulu-Natal court on Monday but failed to do so.
The PKTT’s hunt for Adams started with him opening a can of accusations against not only SAPS but also KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi after he claimed that members of the PKTT stormed a house he previously owned in Mitchells Plain, on Saturday.
Adams and Mkhwanazi have been in each other’s cross-hairs with remarks since Mkhwanazi claimed at the Parliament Ad Hoc Committee hearings that Adams used a blue light escort to the prison in Westville.
Adams maintained that he was escorted by metro police, not the SAPS, to the Westville Prison. He said that he was on official duty and he went to the prison to interview the convicted killer of Magaqa.
Prior to his arrest, Adams spoke to the media, where he placed blame for his predicament on Crime Intelligence boss Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo.
“I've done nothing wrong. What they're accusing me of is something that happened a year ago, when I took a statement from the man who killed Magaqa, who implicates General Khumalo. The same General Khumalo heads the PKTT; the same General Khumalo who is before the courts. He's an alleged criminal because of charges that I laid.”
Adams had said that he had told NCC members, who felt panicked about the recent developments, months ago, that he would be facing arrest.
“I've been telling them for the last six months, you will open the news one day, you will see that I've been shot or arrested. I've been warning them that this is coming 'cause I know how these people operate.”
He also questioned the time of the police statement, given that they had sought a high court application requesting more information before just handing himself over to the police station.
“Why are they putting out the statement this morning that I must hand myself over when they're doing court tomorrow? They could have put out that statement on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, (but) Tuesday morning when they knew they must be in court (on Wednesday) to come and answer, now I'm the fugitive,” Adams said.
Adams had taken issue with the lack of information he had received from SAPS regarding why he had to hand himself over, and he had launched a high court application to get more information from SAPS regarding their warrant of arrest.
NCC spokesperson, Dean Goliath, said that the party has strongly condemned what they called “the unlawful and deeply troubling arrest”.
“It is important to note that the High Court, in documentation issued today, explicitly stated that the execution of Mr. Adams’ arrest should not take place. Despite this clear legal directive, the arrest was carried out, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the rule of law and judicial authority.
“The NCC views this action as not only unlawful but also cruel, an affront to justice, and a dangerous precedent for the treatment of political leaders who defend the rights and dignity of our communities,” Goliath said.
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