National Coloured Congress leader and MP Fadiel Adams granted R10,000 bail

Jubilation erupted at the Pinetown Magistrate's Court when National Coloured Congress leader and MP Fadiel Adams was released from detention after the court ruled on his Schedule 1 bail application. 

Magistrate Wendalyn Robinson said she was satisfied that he is a candidate to be released, and he was granted R10,000 bail. Adams will return to court on August 14.

The court heard closing arguments in mitigation and aggravation of his bail application in which Adams’s legal counsel, advocate Yuri Gangai, addressed the court regarding the State’s arguments that their client is a flight risk in that he attempted to evade trial. 

During court proceedings, Adams’s “catch me if you can” conduct was placed under the spotlight.

This was as a result of a TikTok video, before his arrest on Tuesday, May 5, by the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) at the Parliamentary Village, that Adams likened himself to Harrison Ford in 'The Fugitive', indicating that the PKTT went to certain addresses, looking for him and could not find him.  

The State submitted that Adams made a mockery of the unit, which Adams described as a rogue unit, and this amounts to his defeating and obstructing the administration of justice.

Robinson imposed strict bail conditions on Adams, including that he report to the Mitchells Plain police station two days a week, he is prohibited from any communication with any witnesses, SAPS officers, Durban Metro police officers, as well as any members of the PKTT.

Adams is allowed to reside between two addresses - one at a residence in Mitchells Plain and his residence in the Parliamentary Village.

Before concluding proceedings on Friday afternoon, Robinson “implored Adams to respect the criminal justice system as they have respected him”.  

The request was made in light of Adams’s conduct, which led up to his arrest, described as a “cat and mouse game” which showed Adams’s, as the State argued, attempts to evade trial.

Before granting bail, Robinson referred to Adams’s non-compliance with an Equality Court order, after derogatory statements were made in a social media posting in which Adams said “f**k the court”. 

“When our citizens of this country choose to undermine or jeopardise our criminal justice system, then the courts need to take an informed approach and deal with it accordingly.

“What is clear is… that the applicant and what was submitted by his counsel chose to play by his own rules. His contentious behaviour or attitude cannot be ignored. However, what this court must be mindful of is the ultimate fact that the State does have recourse in this regard. There are methods and ways in which the State can deal with this contemptuous behaviour,” said Robinson. 

The State has accused Adams of having visited Westville Prison/Correctional Centre and conducted two separate interviews on November 2, 2024, and January 24, 2025, with two awaiting trial inmates without authorisation from the investigating team, nor the legal representatives of the inmates.

NPA spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, had said: “These inmates were in custody for two separate matters: one being the Sindiso Magaqa murder, and the other inmate was in custody for a partly heard matter. The State is alleging that the accused recorded the interviews. 

“In doing so, the accused allegedly misrepresented to the various authorities, including the SAPS, eThekwini metro police, and officials at the Westville Prison/Correctional Centre, that he was on official duty. Given this impression, authorities then arranged an official escort for him from King Shaka International Airport to the Westville Correctional Centre and back. Further, the State alleges that he was not officially mandated by Parliament to conduct these visits.”

Regarding the Magaqa murder matter, the case against the three accused, namely Sbonelo Myeza, Mbulelo Mpofana, and Zweliphansi Stanley Skhosana, returns to the Pietermaritzburg High Court on May 18 for trial. 

The National Coloured Congress (NCC) has come out strongly in defence of its president, describing his arrest as politically motivated and aimed at intimidating those exposing alleged corruption.

Crime expert Calvin Rafadi has suggested that the court should consider referring Adams for mental observation by a qualified practitioner.

Rafadi said, based on his observations, there appeared to be concerns regarding Adams’ demeanour and understanding of the seriousness of the allegations against him.

“Perhaps the court should consider referring Mr Fadiel Adams for mental observation by a qualified practitioner,” Rafadi said.

Weekend Argus