Retired judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga has reprimanded suspended MP and National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams over his lengthy delay in submitting a sworn statement to the commission.
Adams appeared briefly before the commission on Tuesday, but his testimony will now take place on 19 August. The postponement will allow evidence leaders and commissioners time to consider the statement he eventually submitted.
The commission had been seeking Adams’ statement since 3 October last year. However, the suspended MP only sent the document after 9pm on Monday, several months after the request was made.
Adams attributed the delay to problems with his laptop, saying the device had prevented him from receiving important emails. He told the commission that he had instead depended on telephone calls and colleagues to keep him informed about his work.
Madlanga Challenges Adams Over Laptop Explanation
Madlanga questioned Adams’ explanation, particularly how he had been able to carry out his responsibilities as a parliamentarian while experiencing ongoing problems with his laptop.
“Parliament can confirm that I have a very problematic laptop. It is either in for repairs or frozen,” Adams said.
The MP told the commission that he had become aware of its emails approximately three to four months earlier.
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Adams also said he had believed the commission would send him additional questions because his name had featured several times during earlier testimony.
“Eventually I realised that I wasn’t going to get a subpoena and that is why I emailed the commission,” he said.
Madlanga was not satisfied with the explanation and again questioned how Adams could perform his parliamentary duties if he could not reliably use his laptop.
“It seems to me that you are not taking this commission seriously,” Madlanga said.
Madlanga Tells Adams To Take Commission Seriously
Madlanga then warned Adams that his approach could not continue, saying the suspended MP needed to change how he dealt with the commission.
“And starting from now and going forward, you should not treat this commission the way you have thus far. Because everything you’ve said thus far is just totally unbelievable. I do not believe it.
“This should mean that you cannot function at Parliament as a parliamentarian.”
Madlanga also linked Adams’ explanation to his responsibilities towards the people who elected him.
“If for as long as you suggest is the case, you have been using a laptop that you basically cannot use, you are not taking us as a commission seriously,” Madlanga said.
“And I would dare say, you are not even taking the people that you are supposed to serve seriously.
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“Starting from now going forward, you must take this commission seriously.”
Adams is expected to return before the commission on 19 August, when his evidence will be considered alongside his recently submitted statement.
